Unfiltered Thoughts

2023.05.25 – 0875 – Cocaine And The VoiceCocaineWhile smoked cocaine will have a similar effect to smoking marijuana, snorted cocaine will damage your nose and nasal septum (‘nasal deformity’) and so affect the nasal resonance of your voice. As well as that think of this (it’s a bit gross). You know when you have a cold and sniff and then are able to swallow the phlegm? Something similar happens with cocaine that’s not been absorbed in the nose: it drips down the back of the throat and down towards your vocal folds. This is called ‘post-nasal drip’ – a lovely term! We all know how mucous alone affects the voice, now combine it with a irritable, non-natural drug (especially if it’s been contaminated): your voice will become hoarse and raspy due to chronic laryngitis, as well as having a loss of vocal range and chronic vocal fatigue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.05.24 – 0874 – Marijuana And The VoiceWhile soft and hard drugs use is quite common in society, it’s even more prevalent in the entertainment business. It could be because of the amount of money some of the stars earn, the relaxing effects of some of the drugs or the social aspects.
So how do both these drugs affect your voice?
MarijuanaWhen it is inhaled the vapours of marijuana inevitably affect your mouth, throat and lungs. This commonly results in laryngitis: a tired, rough, raspy, or hoarse voice that could be the start of something more serious. The effort to produce a once-normal sound as swollen folds struggle to vibrate freely, puts extra strain on the folds which in turn causes more damage. Then comes the possibility of vocal nodules, polyps, scarring or a haemorrhage. Some of these injuries are irreversible. (There is no evidence that edible marijuana increased the risk of voice damage.)
Not all marijuana is 100% natural of course, and there are concerns about the synthetic variation (“spice” or “herbal incense”) sold legally in some countries, but largely unregulated. Like anything you inhale there are risks, not only from psychosis, tremors, convulsions or high blood pressure, but for the voice:·        Vomiting – which will damage the pharynx·        Laryngitis – a swelling of the folds, making them easier to be injured Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.05.23 – 0873 – More Cures For Summer Allergies ·        Antihistamine or steroid nasal spray or antihistamine pills – although they can have a drying effect·        Something to suck on – lozenges and pastilles can promote the production of saliva which, when swallowed will help calm the urge to cough on a scratchy throat. Sweets with natural sweeteners and no artificial nonsense are obviously better than those crammed with chemicals and engorged with E-numbers. Beware natural flavours like menthol which can dry out the mouth and throat and have a mild anaesthetic which can mask pain, leading to you using your voice even more…·        Beware the ‘cycle of coughing’: a small tickle is eased by a cough, which irritates even more, leading to a greater urge to cough and so on. Hard swallows are good, a sip of water is better. If you want to clear ‘up’ phlegm rather than swallow it down (nice!), then a gentle, growly “huh huh” might do the trick, rather than the usual throat-clearing·        And of course, good natural eating and drinking (local honey is said to help some people), sleep and vocal rest. Summer can also see a decrease in air quality as pollutants stay in the hot, still atmosphere. Be aware that breathing in in such situations can affect your voice almost immediately due to the effects of a scratchy throat, blocked nose, shallow breathing, let alone any long-term damage that’s being done. Consider the use of air conditioning units or an indoor air filter machine, and a face mask.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.05.22 – 0872 – Cures For Summer Allergies Trouble is, you have to balance drying out the mucous and not over drying the folds[1]:·        Hydration - the mucous will be less thick, and the drying from antihistamine meds, less pronounced, if you drink more!·        Steaming – a plain-water steamer (no unnecessary synthetic oils or perfumes which can be an added irritant) can do wonders to hydrate the folds directly. ·        Nebulising – a nebulizer turns saline water into a finer mist, which you breath in, and is more easily absorbed directly (topically) on the folds than steam ·        Sinus rinse – a saline wash or spray to rinse away allergic particles before they can trigger that immune system response, but don’t use it too often or you will wash away the ‘good’ cells which are on patrol for the breathed-in nasties
[1] Tell your medical professional that you are a ‘voice professional’ when you get advice form them, so they can be aware of any side effects of what they prescribe, on your folds.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.05.21 – 0871 – Your Pitch and Post Nasal Drips We already know about the ‘post-nasal drip’, a lovely term that refers to the secretions from your nose and sinuses which can drip into the back of your mouth and down your throat (think what you do when you have a cold…). With seasonal allergies such drip-drip sinus drainage (especially at night) leads to the vocal folds swelling, which can cause·        A lower pitch - and so a change in your range·        Less resonance – because some of your nasal resonance chambers (‘turbinates’[1]) are inflamed meaning less nasal airflow and so changed resonance in your sound·        A hoarse voice – because of inflamed tissue, which can lead to a tickle, a cough and a risk of vocal fold haemorrhage ·        The need for an increased warm-up time
[1] The turbinates are the tiny nasal tubes that do the job of warming, moisturizing and filtering the air that you breathe, and the body’s first line of defence against bad and seemingly-bad, bacteria or pollen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.05.20 – 0870 – Pollens and Blossoms: Summer Allergies and Your VoiceWe all love the lazy, hazy crazy days of summer, right? Well not if you have a seasonal allergy, and by ‘seasonal’ I mean anything from early spring to late summer, with various pollens having an effect on breathing and sneezing, and therefore your voice as well. Allergies (pollen, as well as dog and cat hair, dust, synthetic chemical smells…) are really your reaction to your body almost working too well! These foreign particles are not threats like a virus or bacteria, but your immune system thinks they are and so puts up a defence, an immuno-logical response, such as more nasal and eye secretions to wash them away, and a  rush of chemicals (including ‘histamines’) to fight the threat.  Common allergies from trees, grass and plants include:·        General tiredness·        Runny and itchy eyes and nose·        A blocked nose·        A scratchy throat leading to an irritating dry cough. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.05.19 – 0869 – Your Voice in Winter - 4 8. Let Your Mic Do The WorkIf you’re on stage in a show, MCing an event, turning on Christmas lights, remember the difference between volume and energy (loads on this from episode 323). You have a mic for a reason, to make yourself louder, so there’s no need to shout into it and hurt your voice. If you do, you start a spiral effect: the sound team will simply turn down the level on your channel so your voice doesn’t distort over the loudspeakers, and you end up having to shout even more. And that of course will lead to you straining your voice and doing it harm. Remember ‘volume’ is not the same as ‘energy’ or ‘excitement’. Loudness can come from the levels on the mixing desk, energy comes from, all sorts of things we’ve looked at before: your resonance, pitch, prosody, some of which comes from your knowledge and confidence … and of course how you breathe… 9. Look After YourselfThe basics as always, especially in the hurried and harried holiday season:·        Hydrate, mate – balancing a festive tipple or pint with water, juice or cordial. Alcohol with a water-chaser if you like·        A balanced diet·        Skeletal and articulator warm ups and cool downs to dispel any tension·        Whether you are a merry gentleman or lady, dear god, rest Pushing through because “the show must go on”, or taking lozenges, pastilles or sprays which numb your throat – and so mask any pain, and lead you to think you’re OK - may cause serious damage. And remember nothing you eat or drink, suck or munch, chomp or chew, swallow or scoff, ingest or ingurgitate, gobble up or bolt down, … goes anywhere near your vocal folds!   Never skip your warm-up exercises and focus a lot on your good vocal technique, avoiding any strain or tension. Listen to your body and don’t perform if it hurts, so you don’t cause more harm and so you recover as quickly as possible. Also listen back to episode 776 – “Help! I’m Getting A Cold!”   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.05.18 – 0868 – Your Voice in Winter - 3 6. Prep and Pacing  Packed public transportation as people rush to prep, humans hurrying from one side of the city/county/planet to the other for the holidays, re-cycled aeroplane air, closed windows on buses and trains, big parties in small rooms, plus throw in mixed age groups, holiday hugs and mistletoe kisses and plates of food being passed around … frankly it’s a surprise we are all still here! It could all be an assault on your general, physical and mental health, so make sure you eat and drink properly; sleep well; hand sanitiser is not just for pandemics; stay hydrated; boost your immune system before the season as over the counter remedies can be drying to your voice (see episode 764). If you get ill, your voice will suffer.  7. Concerts and CarolsIf you are appearing in a performance, panto or show, it’s not just your voice you need to take care of but your colleagues. You have a responsibility to the rest of the cast to be careful with things like hygiene, hugs, and bugs. Joy is lovely to spread at this time of year, colds and flu aren’t, so have time off if you feel a cough. If you’re performing outside, maybe as a narrator or ‘local celebrity’ turning on holiday lights, or carolling, arrive early and allow your body and larynx to acclimatise to the cold air after being in a warm car. (Musicians and those with cameras allow their equipment to adjust first and so should you with yours.) Take more frequent, smaller breaths through nose and mouth rather than normal. Big, gasping breaths through the mouth will tend to chill the larynx. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.05.17 – 0867 – Your Voice in Winter - 2 4. Be Careful of Rich Food and RefluxParty and holiday food can be rich and creamy (think chocolates, fried or spicy finger food, plus carbonated soft or alcoholic drinks) which can lead to potential gastric or reflux issues (that we’ve looked at elsewhere, episode 755), so be careful how much you eat and when. And not too much and not too late!  Have a range of food sure, but balance the chocolate orange with an actual one, you get the idea.  Keep hydrated and not just with alcohol; hot drinks will keep you cosy and warm! 5. Party Warm UpsThere are more social gatherings in the holiday season, and that can mean lots of people crammed inside (with the possibility of germ-sharing – see next tip), and trying to talk over the hub-bub and loud music. Throw in some raucous carols or karaoke (as well as the rich food we just mentioned) and you have a party-petri dish of problems for you voice. Before you go to the party, warm up your voice with the exercises we’ve looked at before. On arrival be careful about immediately shouting greetings across a room, but ease your voice into anything with volume. Keep your voice lubricated during the event, but go careful on the alcohol. Find a quieter corner if you can, so you can talk softer.  A but niche perhaps but also consider what else you are breathing in: chemicals from someone’s vape, being spritzed with perfume in the department store, fake smells of pumpkin spice in a coffee shop’s air conditioning, the manufactured ‘Christmas pine’ scent in the bathroom, atmospheric dry-ice and smoke machines at showbiz events – all of these can be vocal fold irritants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2023.05.16 – 0866 – Your Voice in Winter - 1Winter can be a challenging time for your voice. To quote the song, “the weather outside is frightful” with cold air, there’s warm dry heated air inside, and if the season coincides with Christmas and New Year (depending on your hemisphere[1]) there’s bugs picked up from socialising and travelling, holiday performances such as concerts and carols.
So here are some health tips to follow for the winter months – over and above the usual ones that we’ve looked at before.
1. Breathe Through Your NoseYou knows that your nose is your friend in this season. OK on the outside it may get as red as Rudolph’s but on the inside, it’s doing what it does best: filtering and warming the cold air you breathe in, before sending it to the back of the throat. So as your larynx prefers warm and moist rather than cold and dry air, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth to help it do its best work.
2. Prepare Your HomeInside, the air is likely to be dry and dusty, another combination that’s not good for your cords. Dusty heaters, radiators and air conditioning unit may need a clean so you don’t breathe in the build-up from the months they weren’t used. Add some moisture to the air by using a no-heat humidifier or by simply putting a bowl water on top of the radiator.
3. Scarf up!Wearing a scarf, balaclava or snood will help cut the amount of cold, dry air you breathe in and adds another filter too. In fact, keeping your whole body warm outside will makes you more relaxed and less stressed.
[1] Obviously, the cold weather does not coincide with Christmas in the southern hemisphere, so some of these tips are less directly applicable.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.