Have you ever had the terrible experience of losing your voice? Of having to miss conversations, keep people waiting while you scribble words on paper for them to decipher, or cancel events, jobs, and classes?

I had laryngitis once as a kid, and once it was too much!

This is how it happens: the vocal cords create sound when they come together and vibrate; when they can’t come together in a healthy way, you have less sound.

If the vocal cords (also known as the vocal cords) are irritated and tight, they can become inflamed and tight to the point that the muscles overcompensate, contract and prevent the vocal cords from coming together.

Laryngitis is basically a cramp in the vocal cords.

The more you strain your throat muscles to create sound, the greater your chances of getting laryngitis, vocal nodules, or polyps.

Vocal nodules are like calluses that can grow on your vocal cords if they come together too hard and too often, for example if you constantly clear your throat.

Vocal polyps are like fluid-filled blisters that can burst.

Vocal nodules and vocal polyps can create chronic breathlessness, pain, loss of range, and fatigue.

What can you do to keep your voice healthy, clear, and consistently strong, especially when you need your voice to earn income, create music, save a life, or connect with someone you care about?

10 things to do to avoid losing your voice

1. Learn physical and vocal warm-ups that help relax your throat and vocal cords.
2. Learn to keep your throat and vocal cords relaxed at all levels when you speak or sing.
3. Take care of your back and neck so they are in alignment (alignment helps keep your throat open and relaxed, and your breathing easy)
4. Drink plenty of water (8 or more glasses a day is recommended)
5. Drink warm, healthy fluids like teas and soups (for most people, I recommend hot water, honey, lemon, with 4 slices of fresh ginger)
6. Protect your immune system and emotional health with healthy foods and vitamin supplements, especially vitamins C and B12 (I follow Dr. Jonny Bowden’s recommendations www.jonnybowden.com and also eat Korean health foods)
7. Take care of health problems such as viruses, bacterial infections, allergies, acid reflux, etc.
8. Use a humidifier or steam with essential oils
9. Use a natural throat spray, natural throat lozenge, or vitamin C drop to help heal, moisturize, and clear your throat before you speak or sing.
10. Cleanse your sinuses of bacteria and mucus with a neti pot

5 things not to do to avoid losing your voice

1. Avoid forced yelling, yelling, singing, talking, or whispering (there are healthy ways)
2. Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke (all smokers, including cigarettes, marijuana, cigars, and pipes)
3. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, ice, dairy products, and nut butters 4 hours before speaking or singing
4. Avoid antiseptic menthol throat sprays and lozenges that numb and dehydrate
5. Avoid clearing your throat (try swallowing, light coughing, or warm liquids)

Learning how to take care of your voice with these voice health care and training tips will help you prevent vocal health problems, so you can make sure you can use your voice every day to fully live your life and do your job.