Weekly Insight #4
Understanding Voice Health (Part I)
The Role of Phlegm, Throat Clearing, and Nervousness in Vocal Health
The health of your voice is vital to how you communicate, whether in speech or song. Recently, I received a message from someone who has been dealing with persistent coughing for years and is searching for ways to restore their voice. This reminded me of a common issue I see in my teaching: how throat clearing, coughing, and phlegm can affect your vocal cords.
Phlegm: The Body’s Protection for Your Voice
When we experience phlegm on our vocal cords, it’s important to remember that phlegm serves a purpose. It’s there to protect the cords by creating a coating that prevents the two vocal folds from touching directly. If the folds rub together too forcefully or too frequently, it can lead to swelling, irritation, or even nodules—tiny growths on the vocal folds that interfere with sound production.
Have you ever felt the urge to clear your throat because of phlegm, even when it wasn’t really disrupting your voice?
How often do you pause and think before clearing your throat?
The Risks of Throat Clearing and Coughing
One thing I’ve observed in my teaching is that harsh or repeated throat clearing and coughing can cause irritation and even damage to the vocal cords. When someone clears their throat without awareness or preparation, the shock to the cords can cause small tears or swelling over time. This is especially true when these behaviors are repeated frequently—like in the case of one time when I was observing a lesson, and the student was so nervous that they cleared their throat nearly a hundred times in the first ten minutes. This kind of repeated strain can lead to vocal fatigue and long-term issues.
Coughing, especially if it's forceful or frequent, can have a similar effect. It might help to dislodge phlegm in the short term, but in the long run, it can damage the vocal cords if done harshly. Repeated coughing can wear down the protective coating around the cords, leaving them vulnerable to irritation, swelling, or even more serious conditions like nodules or polyps.
So, does this sound familiar?
Do you find yourself clearing your throat or coughing more often during stressful situations?
Have you ever noticed how often you clear your throat throughout the day?
The Role of Nervousness and Hyper-Awareness in Voice Health
Interestingly, I’ve noticed that throat clearing and coughing are often linked to nervousness or anxiety. Many people clear their throats unconsciously when they’re feeling uncomfortable or nervous. This can become a habitual response to tension, which exacerbates any underlying irritation or vocal strain. While it may seem like a minor reflex, over time, these small actions can cause significant damage if left unchecked.
In some cases, this behavior can stem from hyper-awareness of how the voice feels, particularly during times of stress or discomfort. For example, when someone becomes overly focused on the sensation of phlegm, they might feel compelled to clear their throat, even if the phlegm isn’t truly interfering with their voice. This hyper-awareness can lead to unnecessary throat clearing, when in reality, the phlegm wouldn’t significantly affect the person’s ability to speak or communicate.
The challenge is to balance this awareness and make a conscious choice each time. Instead of habitually coughing or clearing your throat, consider whether it’s truly necessary. Often, phlegm doesn’t disrupt phonation (the production of sound), and clearing your throat unnecessarily might do more harm than good.
Ever caught yourself clearing your throat even when it wasn’t needed?
Have you noticed any patterns in when you clear your throat—like during meetings, or before speaking in public?
Becoming aware of how your voice feels and when you habitually clear your throat or cough is key. In Part 2, we’ll discuss healthier alternatives to managing these sensations and strategies for maintaining vocal health.
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