Protect your voice: here's what you can do to keep your vocal cords singing.

Your throat aches, and your voice is scratchy. It's uncomfortable to talk. You're afraid to try singing. Life's daily demands have left you with an uneasy, strangled, scratchy voice, making it difficult to performa at work, keep up with children at home, or enjoy simple pleasures such as singing.

Despite how imporant your voice is, many people leave vocal discomfort symptoms untreated or do not know what to do to promote good vocal health. Signs of poor vocal health that are not treated can lead to more serious problems.

In addition to interfering with your ability to communicate, voice disorders can have associated emotional consequences according to a recent survey conducted by the National Center for Voice and Speech (NCVS) at the University of Iowa.

Sufferers reported experiencing negative psychological effects arising from their voice problems. The survey of voice and speech patients indicated that 76 percent felt their voice problems affected their future career options, while 65 percent limited their social interaction whenever possible. Psychological problems stemming from the voice disorder symptoms included depression (65 percent), embarrassment (53 percent), and adverse professional self-esteem (61 percent).

If your voice persistently draws attention to itself for more than two weeks, you should see a doctor. Many conditions that lead to voice problems, including laryngitis, are not a serious health threat, but persistent voice abnormalities deserve a doctor's attention. "The rough voice associated with laryngeal cancer, the breathy voice assocated with largngeal paralysis from throid cancer, and the weak voice of a patient with Parkinson's disease are early tip-offs that warrant serious attention," says otolarynologist Harry Hoffman. Symptoms to watch:

1. Pain when speaking.

2. Speech and voice characteristics that are unusual for a person's sex, age, and community.

3. Persistent or progressive hoarseness that lasts for more than two weeks.

4. Unusual effort to speak, weak, tired, low or high speaking voice.

5. In people older than 65, voice spasms and a lost ability to sing low notes.

6. In people younger than 65, changes in voice that result in a lost ability to sing high compared to low notes.

7. Alterations in pitch, range, and ability in trained singers.

More serious problems that occur when not speaking include coughing up blood, an audible harsh sound when breathing combined with a feeling of airway blockage, difficulty swallowing, or an unusual neck mass. Any person experiencing these symptoms should consult a doctor immediately.

What you can do. Not only is it important to know the signs of poor vocal health; it is important to know how to protect and maintain a healthy voice. A list of vocal health tips developed by the NCVS includes the following:

1. Rest your voice in times of vocal fatigue. Tired muscles need rest; your vocal tissues are no different.

2. Repeated clearing of the throat or coughing may damage vocal fold tissues; try sipping water to ease throat irritation.

3. Simple relaxation techniques can ease the muscle tension that causes speakers to press their vocal folds too tightly together, causing damage.

4. Vocal tissues work best when they are well hydrated. Drinking plenty of water and keeping home environments at a relative humidity of 40 percent or more will help moisten vocal tissues.

5. Alcohol and caffeine dehydrate the vocal folds.

6. Antihistamines for cold symptoms that dry up the sinuses and lungs also dehydrate the vocal folds; drink plenty of water when using them.

7. Cough syrups treat the symptoms of a voice problem, not the source of the problem. Cough syrups also contain alcohol, which dehydrates the vocal folds. When using cough syrup to treat sore throat symptoms, drink plenty of liquids. The cough syrup will alleviate the discomfort, but vocal rest and good vocal hygiene are the best ways to deal with voice problems in a timely manner.

Vocal steriods enable a person who is experiencing poor vocal health to do a single speaking or singing performance who otherwise could not, but they can be harmful! They also only treat symptoms and allow a person to produce normal voicing with damaged vocal instruments. The long-term effects of this repeated abuse could be devastating.

8. Smoking is the leading cause of laryngeal cancer; at the very least, smoking irritates tissues used for singing and speaking. Don't smoke!

9. Having good posture and using the correct pitch when speaking can improve the quality of your voice and can alleviate unnecessary stress on the voice.

10. Vocal training from a licensed speech-language pathologist can help you learn how to best use your voice; vocal endurance, like athletics, requires special skills.

Vocal health matters are often ignored. Having a healthy voice, compared to one that is weak and tired and does not perform well, can be an important ingredient to a successful and happy life at home, at work, and in the community. Take care of your voice! You and your loved ones deserve the benefits that a little good vocal hygiene can provide.

LET YOUR VOCALS SING

Myth: Smoking a cigarette or drinking coffee or alcohol before singing will help you relax and sing better.

Fact: Smoking irritates vocal fold tissues, while consuming drinks with caffeine or alcohol dehydrate the vocal folds, which perform much better when they are well hydrated. Singing or forced voicing when the vocal folds are dry or irritated can be damaging. Drink beverages without caffeine or alcohol before singing to improve hydration. Also consider performing breathing exercises combined with stretching exercises for the neck and facial muscles as relaxation techniques.