Don't suffer with a sore throat - keep it healthy with these tips
If there was a gold medal for talking, Britain would fare very well as new research reveals we are a nation of chatterboxes.
A quarter of adults in the UK talk on the phone for at least an hour a day, while almost half of us talk face to face for at least 3 hours a day which equates to 21 hours, just shy of a full day each week.
The research conducted was conducted for Meda’s Throat Smart campaign. Exploring how we use and look after our voices the research also uncovered the emotional impact of having a sore throat with 48% of us feeling fed up, 38% feeling unhealthy and 28% frustrated.
Leading vocal coach and mother of four Carrie Grant comments; “Whether we are singers or not, our voices are very hard working and need to be looked after properly. Sore throats are difficult to manage and can have a big impact on how we are able to use our voices. As I use my voice constantly there’s no time to let a sore throat stop me.”
Carrie Grant is lending her support to Meda’s Throat Smart campaign which aims to help us keep our throats healthy and get back to full voice should we be affected by a sore throat during the colder months when sore throats are most likely to strike.
Here are Carrie’s tips for ensuring we keep our throat healthy:
- “Drink plenty of water, the vocal folds (commonly known as your vocal cords) need lubrication and any kind of sore throat causes over or under production of phlegm so keeping them well watered helps.”
- “Rest, eat a healthy diet and de-stress. Easier said than done when you’re busy, I know, but essential to recovery.”
- “It’s all about volume. Don’t whisper, this forces the vocal folds together and can cause more inflammation. Better to speak at a low but clear level if your throat is sore.”
- “When we are angry or excited we tend to raise our voice to a higher pitch, but keeping your voice at a medium pitch will allow you to feel your voice resonate through your chest. And, as a mother of four my best bit of advice, and one I’m still trying to master, don’t shout quite as loudly!”
For more tips head to www.throatsmart.co.uk
Femalefirst
Tagged in Health