On World Voice Day, which is celebrated every year in April, the otorhinolaryngology specialist at Hospital da Luz, Sara Viana Batista, shares advice on vocal health prevention . What can we do to prevent voice problems? A voice professional is anyone who uses their voice frequently as part of their professional activity. There are different levels of vocal risk. Clearly, a singer or an actor will be high‑performance athletes in the use of their voice. However, a doctor, a teacher, a kindergarten educator or a fitness instructor are also voice professionals — and any limitation in their voice will affect their professional activity. First, we should maintain proper posture when using our voice . It is advisable not to wear overly tight clothing and, whenever possible, to speak while standing. If necessary, we should ensure we feel physically comfortable. It is also important that the surrounding environment is comfortable, avoiding places with excessive noise, air conditioning, or low humidity. All these environments put our voice at risk. Then, on a more personal level, what can we do? Proper hydration . Contrary to popular belief, I often see teachers, actors and many others constantly holding a one‑and‑a‑half‑liter bottle of water. Despite all the benefits of good hydration, I can assure you: that water will not reach your vocal cords. You drink it, and it will leave the body through the normal routes. The only way to hydrate the vocal cords themselves is through steam inhalation, such as the steaming techniques used by actors and singers. That is what truly reaches the vocal cords. We should also avoid very heavy meals , especially those containing spicy foods or foods that can cause reflux, as these can affect vocal quality. There are also other important points. Do not shout . Do not clear your throat … Throat clearing creates the false perception that the voice becomes clearer. It may feel better initially, but it can lead to other problems in the medium and long term. If we need to use our voice in a noisy environment, it is preferable to use a microphone. Teachers and educators should use a microphone whenever necessary. Finally, do not use your voice when you have a cold or if you feel it failing . This is a basic rule. When you feel your voice starting to fail, stop. Continuing may lead to avoidable health problems. The specialist also advises: If you are a smoker and your voice remains altered for more than 15 days, you should seek medical advice. If you are a teacher, actor or singer - in short, if your professional activity depends on voice use - you should seek help as soon as vocal difficulty begins to interfere with your work. Why? Because if the vocal difficulty persists, much more serious problems may arise. Most patients who come to us at an early stage have functional voice disorders that are easily corrected, namely through vocal exercises and speech therapy. If the condition is allowed to persist, lesions may develop on the vocal cords that are harder to treat - although I can assure you that most of them are benign. Take care of your voice! Meet the otorhinolaryngology clinical team from Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
