Husky, Phlegmy Voice – Yuck!
Dear Leo,
Just lately it’s been taking ages for my voice to warm up in the mornings. I find that my voice feels very tight and husky all morning and I can’t sing any high notes until later in the day. I also suffer from phlegm which gets in the way when I sing. Have you got any advice? – Sarah
Dear Sarah,
Your symptoms sound like signs of acid reflux.
It would be a good idea for you to go and visit a good laryngologist and have a little camera put down into your larynx – it sounds hideous but it’s actually simple and painless! Precisely what is going on can then be established.
Reflux occurs when the acid in the stomach (which is naturally secreted to break down food) leaks back up the esophagus and bathes the vocal folds in acid.
Symptoms of reflux include heartburn and having an acidic taste in the mouth or a “huskiness” in the voice, particularly early in the morning.
Singers suffering from reflux often find early-morning vocalizing difficult as their vocal folds tend to be swollen and reddened. This can be clearly identified when being ‘scoped’ by a laryngologist.
To avoid or to ease the symptoms of reflux, try not to eat too late in the day – no later than three to four hours before you go to sleep, and avoid drinking too much alcohol.
Spicy, fatty and rich foods, as well as chocolate are best avoided.
Stress is also a major contributor to the onset of acid reflux so anything which helps you to handle your stress-levels is positive.
It also helps to elevate your mattress, with books or anything you can lay your hands on, so that your head is physically higher than the rest of your body. This position makes it more difficult for acid to reach your larynx.
If after taking these simple steps your symptoms do not improve, it would be worth you seeing a laryngologist or GP who may prescribe acid-suppressing drugs.
Leontine Hass
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charlotteconley
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http://www.calijazz.com/ cheryl Lockett
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http://www.whatdoesacidrefluxfeellike.net/ acid_reflux_feel_like
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Maryjaynep
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http://www.Acidrefluxsymptomsnews.com Acid reflux symptoms
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