Sore Throat Relief for Singers and Vocalists

Sore Throat Relief for Singers and Vocalists (in fact anyone who is serious about keeping a healthy voice)

This guide is written primarily for the singer, but is useful to everyone who needs sore throat relief or suffers from a hoarse voice.

Our vocal cords are delicate membranes surrounded by muscle. These membranes need to come together solidly to create a clear sound. Sometime infection or over-use can cause these membranes to swell, resulting in hoarseness. Continued over-use, shouting, and even whispering can, over time, result in damage of the vocal cords, which needs medical attention.

Warm-up your voice before you start. You wouldn’t see an athlete tearing around the track without warming up their body first, so offer your voice the same consideration. It doesn’t take much effort.

• Start with a few deep, controlled breaths, followed by some humming.

• Hum your favourite song, if scales are not your thing.

• Use your voice to make a squeaky door being opened sound (use the ee sound to slide up and down your vocal range).

• Move onto singing some of your gentler songs, before you start tackling the belters.

• Also know your limits. Don’t try to sing too high, or too low until you are warmed up enough. Start at a comfortable range and extend from there.

Avoid abusing your voice throughout the day. Don’t talk for long periods of time – you will find your voice will get hoarse. Avoid whispering. This is stressful to your voice and will cause vocal fatigue. Do not shout over loud noises, such as machinery or concerts. I’ve know a few who have yelled at rock concerts, etc, and haven’t been able to sing for months afterwards. It’s just not worth it!   Talking for prolonged periods is also a hazzard for your voice. So many teachers, sales reps and call-centre staff end up having problems with their voice because of not taking care of their voice, or giving it enough rest to recover.

Vocal hydration is extremely important. Our cords are delicate membranes, which dry out very easily (especially when talking or singing in dry, smoky atmospheres). So drink plenty of water.  There are a number of sprays and lozenges on the market which can help. Also steam inhalation is good at getting moisture onto your cords.

Drinking – (alcohol that is!. We’ve all needed Dutch Courage at some point, but alcohol can lead to damage of your vocal cords. Huh? I hear you say. Alcohol numbs our nervous system, and helps lose our inhibitions. For example, Normally, when you’ve not had a drink, you know when your voice is tired, or when you have pushed your voice too far because you will feel discomfort in your throat. However, since you’ve had your drink, the alcohol can numb your throat, loosen your inhibitions, pushing your voice past its usual boundaries (this may take the form of shouting or singing too loud, too high, too low, or simply for too long a time period) and you can’t feel those warning signs. You wake up in the morning, with a sore head and no voice for several days (or in some cases several weeks!)

Smoking. There are no health benefits to smoking, so either cut down or stop completely. Smoking affects your lung capacity, irritates the membranes in the windpipe, resulting excessive mucus and a cough, which can inflame the vocal cords, as well as all the other health problems associated with smoking. That leads me onto recreational drugs – if drinking and smoking are bad – drugs are even worse. Don’t go there!

A few tips to help you recover from a sore throat:

1. REST!!

2. Drink plenty of Water.

3. Avoid Tea, Coffee, Cream & Alcohol

4. Take Vitamin C tablets or eat fruits/ vegetables rich in Vitamin C to aid your body’s natural defences. Hot Lemon & Honey or Blackcurrant both contain vitamin C and anti-viral properties and fresh ginger has natural anti-inflammatory properties – grate a little ginger and add it to hot water, sweeten with honey if required.

5. Severe, violent coughing can injure the vocal cords. Cough Syrup, Throat Sprays and Lozenges can help.

6. Hot Water Steam Inhalation, with or without a few drops of Eucalyptus, Peppermint or other Essential Oil helps to clear the sinuses, and get moisture onto the vocal cords

7. Do NOT attempt to Sing and avoid Talking until you feel better to allow the inflammation an opportunity to reduce. This may be even take several weeks

8. On recovery start with some gentle humming for 5-10 minutes at a time and slowly build up to a few vocal exercises in your mid- range gradually expanding the range over several days. The rate of recovery will depend on the severity of illness and how experienced a singer you are. Any recurrence of hoarseness stop and rest the voice for another couple of days.

And Most Importantly – Take time out. We all need to have a break. You need a complete rest from singing at least once a week and I mean a complete rest. No practice, no singing along to your favourite records, no singing in the bath etc. Also if you done a hard day or long gig, then give your voice a rest the following day.

If symptoms continue, seek advice from your own Doctor.

Source : successfulsinging.com 

Top 10 Preventive Care Tips at 50+

You get one body to live with and you want to keep it moving and functioning. Getting older shouldn't automatically mean you slow down. One of the best ways to stay on the move is with preventivehealth care. Key screenings and tests can help your doctor find medical problems early -- before they cause bigger problems that make them more complicated to treat.

Don’t let the cost keep you from having these tests. Most health plans, including Medicare, pay for preventive tests. Your doctor can help make the case if you need a test and may be able to direct you to free or low-cost programs.

1. Blood pressure check. High blood pressure can cause a heart attack, a stroke, and eye and kidney problems -- without you even knowing your blood pressure is high. That’s why it’s important to get your blood pressure checked, even if you don’t think you have a problem. If your blood pressure is lower than 120/80, at least once every two years is usually fine. If your blood pressure is higher, then your doctor will likely want to check it more often.

2. Cholesterol screening. Heart disease is the top cause of death in the U.S. One of its main risk factors is a high blood cholesterol level.

It's recommended that you start getting your cholesterol tested at least once every four to six years beginning at age 20. A simple blood test shows your levels and risk for heart disease.

As you age, your risk for heart disease increases. If you are in your 50s, it's vitally important to continue getting screened.

3. Mammogram. As a screening test for breast cancer, experts agree that a mammogram is the best way to find breast cancer early. There's some debate about how often you should get one.

• The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all women between ages 50 and 74 have a mammogram once every 2 years.
• The American Cancer Society recommends a mammogram each year for women after age 40

Talk with your doctor to determine the best schedule for you, based on your family history and other risk factors.

4. Colon cancer screening. Colon cancer is the second leading cause ofcancer deaths in the U.S. When you turn 50, your chance of developing it increases. So -- unless you're at an above-average risk -- age 50 is when your doctor may recommend you start getting screened. The good news: there are several tests that can help detect colon cancer early. How often you're screened depends on which tests you and your doctor decide you should have, and what the results of your tests are. Some commonly performed screenings include:

• Colonoscopy, once every 10 years
• Fecal occult blood test, once a year
• Sigmoidoscopy, every 5 years, combined with a fecal occult blood test every 3 years

Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy are two cancer screenings that can also help prevent cancer from developing. During these screenings, your doctor may find and remove precancerous polyps from your colon.

5. Pap test. This test checks for cervical cancer, which is easy to treat when caught early. Although your risk of cervical cancer decreases with age, your need for routine Pap tests doesn’t stop with menopause. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that women ages 21 to 65 have a Pap test every 3 years. Women ages 30 to 65 may have screening every 5 years using a combination of Pap test and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing. Women who have a higher risk of cancer may need a Pap test more often. Your doctor can recommend what is best for you.

6. Bone mineral density scan. This screening checks your risk forosteoporosis. It's recommended for all women at age 65. If you are at high risk, your doctor may recommend this test once you turn 60.

Men, ages 70 and older, may also benefit from this screening.

7. AAA screening. Experts recommend a one-time abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening for men ages 65 to 75 who have smoked at any point in their lives. This ultrasound screens for an enlarged blood vessel in the abdominal area that can cause severe bleeding and death if it ruptures. If your blood vessel is enlarged, surgery can often correct it.

8. Depression screening. Depression is a common cause of disability in adults, although it’s often overlooked. It frequently arises with chronic illness and aging. Depression isn't a normal part of aging, and you can get treatment. If you're feeling sad, hopeless, or not interested in your regular activities, talk with your doctor. She can see if you're depressed by having you fill out a questionnaire or by asking you a few simple questions.

9. Diabetes screening. More than 9% of all Americans have diabetes -- including nearly 28% of people who are undiagnosed. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause complications such as blindness, kidney disease, and the need for limb amputation. Ask your doctor about how often you need diabetes screenings.

10. Immunizations. As you age, you need a few extra vaccines to help you stay healthy.

• Flu shot: Recommended yearly for everyone, 6 months of age and older
• Pneumonia vaccine: Recommended if you're age 65 or older, and if you have diabetes, liver disease, asthma, any other type of lung disease, or problems with your immune system; a series of two different vaccines is now recommended.
• Shingles vaccine: Recommended if you're age 60 or older

Remember, there's a lot you can do on your own to stay healthy as you age.

• Don't smoke.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Exercise regularly.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Practice safe sex.

Source :

WebMD Medical Reference

Garden play time must for kids to prevent obesity

After adjusting for parental influences and socioeconomic status (SES), the authors found that no garden access for children increased the odds of being overweight/developing obesity.

Young children in the three-five age group with no access to green and open places are at a higher risk of developing obesity by the time they turn seven, researchers report.

A study of 6,467 children from England found that no garden access for lower educated households (children age three-five years) increased the odds of obesity at seven years by 38 percent.

Yoga can improve arthritis symptoms and mood

Yoga can improve arthritis symptoms and mood (Getty Images)

Practicing yoga improves physical and mental wellbeing of people living with arthritis, a painful joint disorder for which there is currently no cure, new research has found.

Without management, arthritis can affect not only mobility, but also overall health and well-being, participation in valued activities, and quality of life.

Gene responsible for fracture risk identified

Gene responsible for fracture risk identified (Getty Image)

An international team of researchers has identified a gene responsible for bone mineral density and fracture risk.

The findings could lead to personalised treatment for osteoporosis - a disease that weakens bones, making them brittle and susceptible to fracture - in older adults.

"Our study explores the hereditary aspect of osteoporosis by investigating the role our genes play in determining bone mineral density and who is at risk of fracture due to low bone density," explained senior author Douglas Kiel, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, US.

Smokers at increased risk of tooth loss

Regular and heavy smokers have a significantly increased risk of tooth loss, warns a study.

Male smokers are up to 3.6 times more likely to lose their teeth than non-smokers, whereas female smokers have 2.5 times greater risk, the findings showed.

"Most teeth are lost as a result of either caries (tooth decay) or chronic periodontitis (gum disease). We know that smoking is a strong risk factor for periodontitis, so that may go a long way towards explaining the higher rate of tooth loss in smokers," said lead author Thomas Dietrich, professor at University of Birmingham in England.

Surprise! Junk food could shrink your brain, says new study

Melbourne: Eating junk food may shrink the part of your brain involved in learning, memory and mental health, a new study has claimed.

Older adults who eat more unhealthy foods, such as sweet drinks, salty snacks and processed meats, have smaller left hippocampi, researchers said.

The study also shows that older people with healthier diets have larger hippocampi, a region of the brain used for learning, memory and mental health.

The Vain Viewer

With HD imaging and exclusive Df²(digital full field) technology,VeinViewer is the only vein illuminator that provides benefits for all patients during the entire Pre, During and Post vascular access procedure. Projected near-infrared light is absorbed by blood and reflected by surrounding tissue.

Source : Interesting Engineering

18 percent of Indian women suffer from infertility due to PCOS

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a disorder that can cause infertility in women of reproductive age is said to be common these days. A recent study has revealed that about 18 per cent of Indian women, mostly from the East, suffer from PCOS, a disorder which causes infertility among the fairer sex. PCOS can occur in both, obese and non-obese women, contrary to the belief. Read: Homeopathic treatment for PCOS. Does it help?

PCOS is an endocrine disorder which is also a leading cause of infertility in women these days. If you are trying to conceive and miss your periods, make sure that you take tests for pregnancy and PCOS both. As sudden irregular periods is one of the symptoms of PCOS. Metropolis Healthcare, a multinational chain of pathology laboratories, conducted an inclusive study to observe the trends of PCOS cases in young women in India. Metropolis conducted a study on 27,411 samples of testosterone over a period of 18 months, out of which 4824 (17.60 per cent) women face hormonal associated risk with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Did you know that Yoga can help treat PCOS?

It can be treated and the main aim of the treatment is to bring the woman’s body back to normal. For that she also has to exercise continuously to make sure that she doesn’t gain any extra weight, eat healthy and make sure that her period is regular and back on track. A woman can conceive even with PCOS only if it is managed properly with regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Though women with PCOS have three times more chances of miscarriage than others.

PCOS is a combination of cosmetic, gynecological and metabolic symptoms. This might include thinning of hair, oily skin with acne, irregular periods, mood swings, etc. Visit a doctor immediately once you notice the signs. If not treated properly it might make you obese. It is popularly seen in the age group of 15 to 30 years. Many of us do not know about PCOS and hence, awareness about this disorder is very important. Among the samples tested east India shows alarming levels of 25.88 per cent women affected by PCOS, followed by 18.62 per cent in north India, which can be largely attributed to lack of awareness among young women and ignorance.Diagnosis of the disease can be done by a testosterone test along with a host of other tests like blood sugar, insulin, FSH, LH, 17OHP and DHEAS.

Image Source: Getty Images

कैसे होता है डेंगू, बचाव के 10 उपाय

यह सच है कि डेंगू का मच्छर दिन के उजाले में घरों के अंदर या बाहर काटता है, लेकिन अगर रात में रोशनी जल रही हो तब भी ये मच्छर काट सकते हैं।

घर के अंदर फूलदानों में पानी जमा न होने दें और उन्हें हफ्ते में एक बार जरूर साफ करें।

जिन लोगों के घर में कोई डेंगू से पीड़ित है, वह थोड़ा ज्यादा ध्यान रखें कि मच्छर दूसरे सदस्यों को न काटे। बीमारी को फैलने से बचाने के लिए पीड़ित को मच्छरदानी के अंदर सोना चाहिए। अस्पतालों को भी चाहिए कि वे डेंगू के मरीजों को मच्छरदानी उपलब्ध करवाएं।

हार्ट केयर फाउंडेशन ऑफ इंडिया के अध्यक्ष और आईएमए के ऑनरेरी सेक्रेटरी जनरल डॉ. के.के. अग्रवाल बताते हैं, "बहुत से लोगों को नहीं पता कि डेंगू का मच्छर गंदी नालियों में नहीं बल्कि साफ सुथरे पानी में पनपते हैं। साफ सुथरे शहरी इलाकों में रहने वाले लोगों को इसका ज्यादा खतरा रहता है। बचाव इलाज से हमेशा बेहतर रहता है। अगर आप को डेंगू हो जाए तो घबराएं नहीं, भरपूर मात्रा में तरल आहार लें, क्योंकि डिहाइड्रेशन से ही बीमारी खतरनाक होती है और अगर डेंगू के मरीज का प्लेटलेट्स काउंट 10,000 से ज्यादा हो तो प्लेटलेट्स ट्रांसफ्यूजन की जरूरत नहीं होती। बल्कि बेवजह प्लेटलेट्स ट्रांसफ्यूजन नुकसान कर सकता है।

डेंगू बुखार मच्छरों के काटने से होने वाली एक दर्दनाक बीमारी है। यह चार किस्मों के डेंगू वायरस के संक्रमण से होती है, जो मादा एडीस मच्छर के काटने से फैलता है। डेंगू में तेज बुखार के साथ नाक बहना, खांसी, आखों के पीछे दर्द, जोड़ों के दर्द और त्वचा पर हल्के रैश होते हैं। हालांकि कुछ लोगों में लाल और सफेद निशानों के साथ पेट खराब, जी मिचलाना, उल्टी आदि हो सकता है। चूंकि यह एक वायरस से होता है इसलिए इसकी कोई दवा या एंटीबायटिक नहीं है, इसका इलाज इसके लक्ष्णों का इलाज करके ही किया जाता है। तेज बुखार बीमारी के पहले से दूसरे हफ्ते तक रहता है।

उचित मच्छर प्रतिरोधक का प्रयोग करके और अन्य उपास करके मच्छरों से बचा जा सकता है। घर में मच्छरों के पनपने को रोकना चाहिए। पढ़ें- मच्छरों से बचने के उपाय-

1-बारिश का पानी निकालने वाली नालियों, पुराने टायरों, बाल्टियों, प्लास्टिक कवर, खिलौनों और अन्य जगह पर पानी रुकने न दें।

2- फव्वारों, पक्षियों के बर्तनों, गमलों  इत्यादि से हफ्ते में एक बार पानी बदल दें।

3- अस्थायी पूल्ज को खाली कर दें या उनमें मिट्टी भर दें।

4- स्विमिंग पूल का पानी बदलते रहें और उसे चलता रखें।

5- दीवारों, दरवाजों और खिड़कियों की दरारों को भर दें।

6-दरवाजों और खिड़कियों की अच्छे से जांच कर लें।

7- बच्चें को सुलाने वाले कैरियर और अन्य बिस्तर को मच्छरदानी से ढक दें।

8- लंबी बाजू की शर्ट, पैंट और जुराबें पहनकर मच्छरों के कटने से बचें।

9- टीशर्ट को अपनी पैंट और पैंट को जुराबों में डाल कर रखें, ताकि खाली जगह से मच्छर काट न सकें।

10- सूर्य उदय और अस्त के समय व शाम को घर के अंदर रहें, क्योंकि मच्छर इस वक्त ज्यादा सक्रिय होते हैं।

SOURCE - khabar.ibnlive