THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM YOU NEED TO DO TO KEEP YOUR VOICE HEALTHY AND HAPPY: HYDRATION
Your voice needs to be well hydrated. You can achieve good hydration by drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day, or by steaming your voice. Steamers and nebulizers are not magic! They serve ONE AND ONLY purpose. They help you keep your voice hydrated. They DO NOT solve all vocal problems, like vocal strain, tension or pain!
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HOW MUCH WATER DO YOU NEED TO DRINK EVERY DAY?
You probably heard about the recomendation 8 by 8, so 8 times 8-ounce cups every day. But this recommendation is very general and different sources will have different recommendations. The recommendations will depend on your:
- age
- gender
- level of activity
- climate you live in
- the weather
- medication that can cause dehydration.
WHY STEAMING
Steaming is the easiest way to hydrate because the steam gets into direct contact with the tissue in your vocal tract, potentially with the tissue of the vocal folds.
When to use steam inhalation?
- to rehabilitate a tired, overused or injured voice; steaming is an excellent method to help healing
- to reduce vocal fold swelling, for example when you experience hoarseness
- to rehydrate a dehydrated vocal instrument quickly and easily
- to relieve symptoms of allergies, sinus infections, cold, flu, head and chest congestion or other infections
- to keep a vocal instrument hydrated in dry climates or during the winter season when homes are heated and the indoor air becomes dry
- to prevent vocal injuries and to keep the voice in the best shape possible (voice users should use steam inhalation on a regular basis as a preventative measure, even if they do not suffer from any vocal health issue)
STEAMING OPTIONS
1. The cheapest but oldest method is steaming over a pot of boiled water. USE WITH EXTREME CAUTION! Do not to burn yourself!
2. If available to you, use a steam room in your local fitness centre or apartment building.
3. Another cheap option is to have a hot shower with a lot of steam.
4. Personal steam inhaler or nebulizer. A personal steamer that I personally use and recommend is either Mabis Steam Inhaler (cheaper option) or MyPurMist (more convenient option). A nebulizer that I recommend is called VocalMist.
NEBULIZER
A nebulizer is a machine that turns liquids into mist. It is recommended that you always use sterile saline water. It is important to keep the device clean to prevent mold.
MYPURMIST
Steamers produce warm or hot steam. MyPurMist is a brand I use and recommend.
MABIS STEAM INHALER
Another steamer that I recommend. It's bigger and not as convenient as the MyPurMist but still does a good job of producing plenty of steam.
EAT YOUR WATER
To keep your hydration goals, include foods with high water content in your diet. Here are some examples of such fruits and vegetables:
Fruits with the content of water above 90%: watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, grapefruit
Fruits, which have high water content above 80%: peaches, pineapple, oranges, raspberries, blueberries, plums, apples, pears
From the vegetable group, these are foods with 90% water content and above: iceberg lettuce, cucumber, celery, green peppers, spinach, zucchini, radish, tomato, eggplant
Other suggestions that will give you plenty of water: broth-based soups, apple sauce, mixed green salad, tomato sauce, popsicles, and more
AIR HUMIDITY
The recommended room humidity levels should be between 40 and 50 percent. Indoor humidity levels decrease during winter due to the drying effects of heating systems.
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