Protect Your Throat and Voice During Cold and Flu Season

When it comes to respiratory viruses, we’re trapped. There is no way we can escape them. But, we can somewhat protect ourselves – and our voices – by increasing our ability to resist these vile, airborne microbes and decreasing our exposure to them.

“This cold and flu season, let a sore throat be your signal,” says renowned voice coach Renee Grant-Williams. “A sore throat is often nature’s first way of telling you that something is wrong. Don’t use sore throat remedies that numb the pain. The pain is there to put you on notice not to overuse your voice at this time.”

Grant-Williams suggests that at the first sign of a sore throat, you do two things.

“First, grab some zinc lozenges. They work wonders,” says Grant-Williams. “Zinc lozenges have proven to be most effective in fighting colds when an infection is in its first stages. Start taking them as soon as you have the first hint of a sore throat.”

Second, kick-in with back-to-the-basics remedies for maintaining a healthy voice (these are behaviors you should practice even before you feel a sore throat):

- Get plenty of rest. Just as having too little rest fatigues your back, legs and mind, it fatigues your throat and voice too. You are the only person who knows how much sleep you need. Listen to your body – and sleep, nap and take breaks accordingly.

- Drink plenty of fluids. Without enough water, you can dry your throat out like a thirsty plant. Drink more water than you think you actually need – at least eight glasses a day.

- Eat well. Avoid alcohol and stay away from foods and drinks with caffeine. They dehydrate you – and your throat. This includes chocolate, tea, coffee and soft drinks. Also,
limit dairy products because they tend to produce mucus.

- Keep a constant body temperature. Avoid overly air-conditioned rooms, excessively heated rooms, and frequent exposure to cold weather outside.

- Reduce stress. Being overworked mentally or emotionally will drain your body as much as being overworked physically.

The best advice for minimizing exposure to respiratory ailments in the first place is to avoid contact with people who are sick – and to be careful with what you touch.

“Especially watch out for items handled by multiple people,” says Grant-Williams. “When you touch a telephone, pen, money, or microphone, you may be sharing germs with the last few people who handled them. Even your own toothbrush can be an illness waiting to happen. Replace your toothbrush often so it doesn’t become a breeding ground for dangerous microbes.”

Grant-Williams coaches business executives, sales professionals and celebrities including Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, the Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw, Christina Aguilera, Martina McBride, Linda Ronstadt, Randy Travis and Huey Lewis. Record labels, producers and managers rely on her to help fine-tune their artists. She has been quoted by Cosmopolitan, TV Guide, Business Week, Southern Living, US Weekly, the Associated Press, UPI, the Chicago Tribune, the Boston Globe, and the San Francisco Chronicle. She has appeared on many broadcast outlets including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Bravo, USA, MTV, GAC, BBC, PBS, and NPR. Grant-Williams is a former instructor at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as well as the former director of the Division of Vocal Music at the University of California, Berkeley.

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For more information or to schedule an interview with Renee Grant-Williams, call 615-259-4900 or visit www.MyVoiceCoach.com.
12/18/2005