Overuse: Using your voice too much
Misuse: Using the extremes of your range (whispering, yelling, making funny noises, etc.)
Use when sick: Using the voice while experiencing inflammation or mucus in the throat
Dairy: increases mucus production
Caffeine: leads to dryness
Sugar or Grease: gunks up the throat
Pain when speaking or singing
Hoarseness of the voice
Breathy-sounding voice
Vocal Rest: Use your voice only when absolutely necessary. Find other ways to communicate.
Hydrate: Drink room temperature water and warm herbal tea.
Honey and lemon juice: Honey soothes the throat and lemon juice thins mucus.
Neti Pot: helps clear mucus from the nasal passages to prevent drainage onto the vocal folds
Singer Spray: Herbal spray to relieve pain and hoarseness
For severe or chronic symptoms, see an otolaryngologist who can check for conditions such as vocal nodules, scarring, or paralysis.
Low blood sugar - make sure to eat!
Heat - body heat, stage lights, and environmental conditions
Locking Knees - cuts off blood circulation
Dehydration - drink water!