Rest, Hydrate, and Recover: A Singer’s Guide to Beating Illness

by Dr Daniel K Robinson - March 03, 2023

Hello there! Let’s talk about tips to get sick singers back to their full vocal health. If you’re a singer who is currently sick or want to be prepared for when you do get sick, this blog is for you.

Rest is Key

As boring as it sounds, rest is the most important thing to do when you’re sick. It’s common to want to keep going and push through, but doing so can prolong your illness and lead to serious vocal problems. During sickness, your body needs to focus its energy on fighting the acute infection.

Vocal rest is also essential during sickness. Singing or speaking when your voice is not at its best can severely impair your vocal health. Vocal rest doesn’t mean absolute silence, but it means reducing your vocal load relative to your normal levels of vocal output.

Vocal Rest and Care

Reducing your vocal load means less talking on the phone, around the house, and less singing. But don’t worry, in some cases, vocal activities like straw phonation, semi-occluded vocal tract exercises (SOVTs) can help your voice to heal. These exercises can alleviate the swelling that vocal folds often acquire during sickness.

Steaming two or three times daily can also help reduce vocal fold swelling. Warm moist air delivered through the vocal tract can promote healing. Drinking plenty of water, and consuming juices, soups, and fruits and vegetables can also help deliver hydration to your body, promoting quicker recovery.

Recovery Time

The aim here is to get you back singing sooner rather than later. For acute sicknesses like the general cold and flu, expect your voice to take two days to be back to full capacity for every day you are sick. For example, if you are unwell for four days, it will likely take seven to eight days for your voice to feel like it was pre-sickness.

However, your recovery time may take longer if you have COVID-19 or any other serious illnesses. Always remember, your voice is not just your larynx and throat but your entire body. If your sickness persists for longer than a few days or your voice does not return to its normal state after two or three weeks, seek further advice from a licensed medical professional.

Vocal Rest and voice care are essential for sick singers. While it may be tempting to keep going and push through, resting and reducing your vocal load will allow your body to focus on healing and help you recover faster. Take care of your voice and yourself, and you’ll be singing again in no time. Sing well.

For more health tips check out this video…