Today I got an emergency call from a musician friend of mine. In a matter of hours he was going in to do a big presentation on some music software that he's developed, and his voice was hoarse! Seems he'd been practicing his presentation for the last couple of days, and since he's not used to doing any public speaking, he pushed his voice too hard, causing vocal strain.
He said that not only was he hoarse, but his 'vocal cords felt like they were throbbing', which is a good indication that his cords were inflammed, and probably swollen (causing hoarseness). He was afraid of lasting damage, but if he'd only been straining his voice for a couple of days, I believe he's just experiencing a temporary inflammation, with no lasting damage. It's kind of like going to a concert or baseball game and screaming all night - the next day your voice is hoarse, but with vocal rest and proper vocal technique, this should pass in a few days.
In an emergency case like his, when he couldn't rest his voice, I told him to immediately make my VIVA LA VOICE TONIC! All the ingredients in the Tonic will soothe and relax his vocal cords so that he can get through his presentation with comfort and confidence. I suggested he take a thermos with him and drink the Tonic during his presentation to keep the cords warm, cut phlegm, and reduce swelling.
My advice to all of you singers and speakers is to learn proper vocal technique BEFORE you have a Vocal 911! Get Volume One of my Joyful Singing - Seven Principles for Vocal Mastery Series and do some vocalizing every day!
For vocal emergencies, you should also get my VIVA LA VOICE TONIC recipe. You can carry it with you in a thermos whenever you have a singing/speaking gig. It's a lifesaver for all of us who use our voices.
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