This pandemic has resulted in most people communicating virtually throughout the day, and many others having to communicate while wearing face coverings.
Voice professionals and ENT surgeons are seeing more individuals with functional voice issues, which might be related to changes in the way they use their voice while they are on virtual meetings , maintain social distancing, and wear masks. With individuals with existing voice issues, added vocal tension (muscle tension dysphonia) in their larynx could lead to hoarse voice, throat pain and associated problems.
They could be contributing factors for professional voice users like teachers, whose jobs require them to talk throughout the day, as well as for healthcare providers who must wear the thicker N95 masks.
Remember, whether you are communicating with people in person, or virtually, make sure you are caring for yourself and your voice during this stressful time. It's how you communicate and connect with the world around you. If you're continually exposing it to the same repeated damage and you don't make any adjustments, there could be certain long-term impacts with that. That’s why it’s important to try to build voice breaks into your schedule, to give your voice time to rest.
Hydration (along with balanced diet) is essential for overall health with increased requirements as your activity increases. Your vocal folds require great surface lubrication for maintaining healthy vocal fold vibration.
Externally, breathing with an open mouth posture, cold and dry air and certain medicines could cause tissue dehydration. Internally, specific medicines, sweating without replacing fluids, and caffeine could cause tissue dehydration. It's essential you take in around 1 to 2 litres of water or more each day in order to remain hydrated.
Vocal health symptoms to keep an eye out for are:
Vocal fatigue: It can become harder to speak for long periods of time. Your voice is tired. Your muscles around your throat might feel tight, and you may experience general body fatigue.
Change in voice quality: You may hear breathiness, hoarseness, pitch breaks, or cracks.
If you have voice difficulties or any of the above symptoms lasting more than 2 to 3 weeks, consider scheduling a voice evaluation with an ENT surgeon with special interest in laryngology.
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For further queries about the infections, diseases, and treatments of the ear, nose or throat, Dr Mohanty’s Speciality ENT Clinics in Chennai, India can help in a number of ways,
Dr Mohanty’s Speciality ENT Clinics
Manapakkam, Chennai, India.
For Consultation: +91 97910 74677
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