By Hailie Gold
There are a lot of do’s and don’ts when it comes to the vocal chords (also known as the vocal folds or vocal reeds). For example, you should try to avoid lots of dairy, especially milk, when you’re getting ready to do a lot of singing or talking. Dairy coats the vocal chords, making them have to work harder, which can put a strain on them. Caffeine and high acidity level foods should also be held at arms length while you are sick or working on a project, as they have similar effects.
Something I’ve been told, but I can’t bring myself to do, is to wait four hours after eating to go to bed. When you lay down after eating, food can creep up your throat and potentially “burn” your vocal chords. When I say burn, it goes back to the amount of acidic foods you eat. As sad as it may sound, try to avoid screaming when possible. One year I went to Disney World and went on a lot of roller coasters. When I came home, I was very hoarse and my voice teacher wasn’t very pleased…
A big thing to watch out for, if nothing else, is over singing. Many professional actors go on complete vocal rest during shows when they’re not on stage (when their roles are overly vocal strenuous) as to avoid over singing- or vocal fry. If you’ve been singing for a while, especially if you are belting, and your throat is starting hurt, stop singing as much as you can, and drink lots of water! If you do this too many times, you could put yourself at risk for getting nodules. Vocal cord nodules are small lumps you get on your chords, that can cause serious damage if left untreated. Vocal chords are like any other part of the body, and should be treated with care. You wouldn’t walk around with a broken arm and not get it looked at, right?
I am not a medical practitioner, these are just pieces of wisdom I have gathered from voice teachers and acting coaches over the years. If you experience real vocal troubles, always consult a professional.