Dealing with Acid Reflux as a Singer

Are you experiencing heartburn after you eat? Do you wake up with a sore throat every morning? Does your voice easily get tired when you sing? Have you lost your tone quality? Have you lost some of your vocal range? Then your acid reflux symptoms may be affecting your singing voice. Dealing with acid reflux as a singer can be very tough, and frustrating. Experiencing acid reflux or heartburn only as little as twice a week can begin to damage the vocal folds. Here are some helpful tips for overcoming acid reflux in your life, and to restore your singing voice.

*If you are already seeing a doctor to treat your acid reflux symptoms, please continue to follow your doctors prescribed orders.

Here's a Guide to Combat Acid Reflux:

1. Quit smoking and/ or using tobacco products. Smoking causes acid reflux.

2. If you are experiencing a sore throat every morning when you wake up, than you might be a nighttime reflux sufferer. A nighttime reflux sufferer is someone who experiences any of the following symptoms daily in the early morning: hoarseness, sore throat, and/ or coughing. Raise the head of your bed on blocks by at least 8 inches or more. Putting your bed on a slant will naturally help to prevent the flow of acid reflux into your throat during the night while you are sleeping.

3. Eat a healthy, balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fiber, and proteins. A healthy diet will help to improve your overall digestion, and alleviate acid reflux symptoms.

4. Eat 4- 6 mini meals a day.

5. Only eat when you are hungry, and stop eating once you are satisfied. Do NOT eat until you are completely full.

6. Avoid spicy, acidic, tomato-based, or fatty foods such as chocolate, citrus fruits, and fruit juices.

7. Avoid mint, because mint relaxes the stomach muscles, which can trigger acid reflux.

8. Watch your weight. (Being overweight increases pressure within the abdomen, which can aggravate acid reflux).

9. Do NOT lie down after eating, and do NOT eat or drink anything 3-4 hours before bedtime, so that your stomach is completely empty before you fall asleep.

10. Do NOT wear tight- fitted clothing, especially trousers, corsets, bras, and belts.

11. Avoid exercising after eating (especially weightlifting, jogging, and yoga).

12. Exercise regularly. Exercise can help aid digestion by increasing blood flow throughout the body thereby increasing the efficiency of the operation of all bodily organs. Taking a walk after eating is especially helpful for digestion.

13. Practice yoga daily. Many yoga postures aid digestion.

14. Do NOT sing right after eating. The act of singing puts pressure on the stomach which can trigger acid reflux.

15. Take a probiotic supplement daily to maintain intestinal flora. Eat fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese, and blue cheese, because these foods have natural probiotics in them.

16. Take an enzyme pill after at least 2 meals per day. Taking an enzyme pill helps to build more enzymes in your stomach so that your stomach will break down your food more effeciently.

17. Drink at least 4- 8 ounces of Aloe Vera juice daily. Aloe Vera juice helps to aid digestion by decreasing inflammation within the digestive tract. It also helps to relieve constipation, and promote regular bowel movements.

18. Drink licorice root or ginger root tea daily, because both herbs naturally aid digestion. Licorice root tea or DGL pills help to decrease inflammation in the stomach, and heal the esophageal lining and the stomach lining. Ginger root helps to relieve heartburn, and nausea.

19. If you are singer who is experiencing severe acid reflux daily then follow these guidelines:

• Take frequent breaks from singing to allow your voice to rest, and to heal.

• Stop singing for a couple of days in order to allow your esophagus and vocal folds to heal, and for the swelling to decrease before resuming your normal daily singing routine.

20. I would recommend for all acid reflux sufferers to check for food allergies. If you suspect that you have food allergies then follow these steps:

• Stop eating all food allergy based foods (wheat, dairy, soy, tree nuts, eggs, fish, and shellfish) for at least 1- 2 weeks.

• Then begin adding one food allergen at a time to your diet per week, and track any symptoms or side effects that you experience after each meal.

• Stop eating that food allergen if you experience any of the following symptoms: pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, vomiting, indigestion, nausea, flatulence, trouble swallowing, trouble breathing, itching, flushing, hives, rashes, and tingling lips.

Works Cited

Koufman, Jamie, Jordan Stern, Marc Bauer. Dropping Acid: The Acid Reflux Diet Cookbook and Cure, The Reflux Cookbooks, L.L.C., 2010.

“What is Acid Reflux Disease?” WebMD, www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/what-is-acid-reflux-disease. Accessed 9 Aug. 2017.

About the Author:

Violet Mandic, soprano, began studying voice with Christa Warda, a professor at Muhlenberg College soon after she graduated from high school. She began studying classical piano at the Tri- County Conservatory of Music. Violet continued her music education at Bucks County Community College where she earned her Associates Degree in the Arts in Music. She became a part of the International Dean’s List Honor Society in 2012. She graduated from Bucks County Community College with an honors in Summa Cum Laude. She transferred to Moravian College to continue studying music. At Moravian College, Violet became a part of the Delta Omicron Music Honors Fraternity in the spring of 2016. Violet won the Charlotte E. Newcombie Scholarship in the fall of 2015, and the Louise Moore Pine Music Scholarship in the fall of 2016. Violet graduated from Moravian College with a Bachelors of Music Degree in Voice Performance in the summer of 2017 with an honors in Summa Cum Laude. Violet is currently working at Miss Cindy’s School of Dance as a voice and piano teacher. She also teaches voice and piano lessons in her private home studio. Violet writes her own articles on voice pedagogy, vocal health, and music. She belongs to the Palisades Community Choir, and the choir at her home church. She is currently working on earning a certification in yoga teaching, and a certification in music education.