Voice Disorders

Vocal hygiene is avoiding behaviors that would harm the healthy use of our voice. What are these harmful behaviors? These are all kinds of habits that damage our voices. For example, to speak loudly and loudly in noisy environments. Talking or shouting too loudly damages our vocal cords. When we go to a soccer game, we cheer out loud. When we leave the stadium, our voices are muted. After all, this results in voice disorders. In this respect, we will stay away from some activities that harm our voice.

Hoarse Voice: The Main Symptom of Voice Disorders

Speaking of hoarseness, it is useful to mention some important points. Hoarseness is a common condition and one of the main voice disorders in daily life. There are many reasons for hoarseness. The most common cause of hoarseness is acute laryngitis. However, abuse of voice, chronic discharge, irritation, reflux, and malignancies can also cause hoarseness. Acute laryngitis usually has 8-10 days of treatment. However, whether we do this treatment or not, they usually heal spontaneously. But if the hoarseness exceeds 3 weeks, it requires advanced medical examinations.

Cough and Throat Clearing

If we have a cough, it will damage the vocal cords a lot in the long term. Therefore, we need to eliminate the cause of our cough as much as possible. For example, the underlying cause of cough may be reflux. This time it is necessary to treat it. The semi-cough-like throat-clearing that we all do can also be harmful to the vocal cords in the long run. Or, in any other way, when we try to clear our throat, we may inadvertently damage our vocal cords. Instead, it is better to drink a little water or if there is no water, just swallow.

Water and Hydration: Effects on Voice Disorders

Hydration or fluid intake is very very important for our vocal health. Because of the healthy functioning of the vocal cords, we need water to keep them slippery. In short, we need to drink plenty of water daily. In this respect, we need to drink around 2 liters of water a day on average. But as a liquid, caffeinated drinks should be as little as possible.

Humidity, Mucoactive Drugs and Antihistamines

Humidification of the environment is also important for our vocal health. Around 50-60% relative humidity in the air is the ideal environment for our vocal health. We can also use drugs that will increase the viscosity of mucus in the throat, but drug therapy is not highly recommended in this regard. It will be healthier if we drink plenty of water instead of medication. We also need to avoid drugs such as antihistamines that can cause drying as much as possible. As a result, it is much more beneficial to drink plenty of water in terms of hydration.

Diuretics: Blood Pressure Medications and Alcohol

Blood Pressure Medications and alcohol have negative effects on our vocal health due to their diuretic effects. It is especially useful to mention some important points about alcohol, which is frequently consumed as a drink in society. Alcohol is a drink that has diuretic effects. That’s why when we drink alcohol we have to dilute it with too much water. Otherwise, our loss of fluid, and therefore dry mouth and throat, and also bad breath will be too much. In this way and also by preferring alcohol-free oral care products (for example, mouthwash with the American Dental Association (ADA) seal such as TheraBreath Fresh Breath, CloSYS Sensitive Gentle Mint, CloSYS Ultra Sensitive Unflavored, Biotene Dry Mouth Oral Rinse, or a different choice: Tom’s of Maine Natural Wicked Fresh Mouthwash)  more, we can eliminate the diuretic effect of alcohol.

The Role of Smoking in Voice Disorders

Harmful habits such as smoking have a direct effect on the vocal cords. Because we know that more than % 90 of laryngeal cancers are caused by smoking. The number of laryngeal cancers in nonsmokers is extremely low. In this respect, we should especially stay away from smoking to prevent many kinds of voice disorders.

Smoke, Dust Inhalation, Dry and Cold Air

Another important point in terms of our vocal hygiene is to avoid harmful ambient conditions. Being in places with cigarette smoke, dust inhalation, dry and cold air directly affects the vocal cords. Therefore, these are harmful situations that impair vocal health and result in voice disorders.

Reflux: Habits and Lifestyle Changes

Another issue that is very important in terms of vocal health is reflux treatment. Treatment of reflux is possible through lifestyle changes, medication, and surgery. Examples of changing behaviors are sleeping on a high pillow, not eating late at night, leaving the food at least 2-3 hours before going to bed, and not drinking anything other than pure water. The consumption of alcohol and caffeinated beverages, especially in the evening, increases the reflux even more. Of course, some things are not easy to let go of. However, at least we can change some of our habits or minimize their effects by drinking plenty of water, not eating late at night, lying on the pillow a little higher.

Reflux: Medical Treatment and Surgery

Drug treatment of reflux, which harms our vocal health, is of great importance. However, medical treatment can continue for a long time. For some patients, this treatment may even last a lifetime. However, most patients are recommended for 3-month treatment at first. In this treatment, we generally use drugs that reduce stomach acidity (proton pump inhibitors, H2 receptor blockers). This patient’s medication is initially given as two doses per day (morning and evening) for 2 weeks, and then a single dose per day for 3 months. We can also resort to surgical treatment for reflux, but we do it as the last choice.

Conclusion

As a result, we should emphasize that the 3 basic things we will do for vocal hygiene are important. The first and simplest of these is that we should drink plenty of water. Second, we should avoid behaviors that are harmful to our voices, at least from yelling and smoking. The third is to treat reflux, if any, or any other underlying disease.