Dealing with Allergies as a Singer

It’s that time of year again when the leaves are about to begin turning red, orange, and brown, and whither in the chilly autumn breeze, but with all the beauty of autumn, spring, and summer comes seasonal allergies. Are you experiencing that nagging, itchy throat? Chronic sneezing? Stuffy Nose? Coughing? Migraines? Fatigue? These are all signs of seasonal allergies, and even though for most people seasonal allergies are just annoying, and frustrating; for singers, untreated allergy symptoms can result in vocal fold damage. It is vital that a singer prevents post-nasal drip, coughing, sore throat, and sinus and ear congestion, because overtime these symptoms can result in the swelling of the esophagus (throat) and the larynx (vocal cords) thereby making it extremely tough to sing. Early signs of vocal trauma that can be a result of allergies are the following: a loss of tone quality, a loss of vocal range, and pain/ itchy throat while singing.

Here's a year around guide to relieving your allergy symptoms:

* If you are already currently under a physician’s care for the treatment of your allergies, please continue to follow your doctor’s orders.

1. Use an air filter to eliminate pollens in your house.

2. Use a cold/hot mist humidifier during the winter months to help keep your sinuses and throat moist. Heating your home during the winter months can create dry air in your home. Keeping the nasal passages moist help to flush out all irritants, and bacteria that we breathe in daily thereby preventing infections, colds, and the flu.

3. Take a hot shower daily. Steam helps to clear and open up the sinuses.

4. Use a Himalayan salt lamp to naturally purify the air in your home, and to add moisture back into the air.

5. Put dust proof pillow covers and bed covers on your bed.

6. Wash your bedsheets and covers once a week to help rid your bedroom of pollens.

7. Do NOT burn wood during the winter if you are allergic to trees, molds, and grasses.

8. Do NOT have house plants, because dirt holds pollens and produces mold growth.

9. Keep your windows and doors shut during allergy season to prevent the pollens from coming into your house, and use an air-conditioner during the summer to keep pollens out of your house. The filter of an air conditioner also helps to filter the air. (MAKE SURE TO CLEAN ALL AIR FILTERS DAILY).

10. Keep your entire house clean, and clean all kitchen appliances in order to prevent mold growth, and pollens in your house.

11. During the winter months, wear a scarf that covers your nose, and mouth from breathing in the cold air to help keep your sinuses moist to prevent getting sick. Also, wear a headband or ear muffs over your ears to prevent ear infections.

12. Take a daily antihistamine medication such as Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec, etc., if you have hay fever.

13. For severe nasal congestion, use a nasal spray twice a day such as Flonase. Once before going to bed, and once in the afternoon when pollens are the highest.

14. If you are already taking allergy medication, and are still experiencing sinus congestion and pain. Take a 4 hour tablet of Sinus Congestion and Pain medication, such as Actifed and Sudafed, to help clear your sinuses every 4 hours, or as needed.

15. Clean your ears daily.

16. If your ears remain clogged after taking all medications, and while using the neti-pot. Then use Rexall’s Ear Relief Drops to relieve clogged ears that are dry.

17. Use a neti-pot to wash out your sinuses daily with a saline solution. Using a neti-pot will help to prevent post-nasal drip, and to clear excess mucus out of the sinuses. It will also help to reduce swelling and inflammation within the sinuses that may be caused by allergies. A neti-pot can be used every hour if need be.

Recipe for Homemade Neti- Pot Solution:

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces of natural distilled water

• ¼ teaspoon of pickling salt

• ¼ teaspoon of baking soda

• ¼ teaspoon of Burt Bees Non- fragranced Baby Wash

• (Optional) 5-6 drops of Hydrogen Peroxide (only if you have a sinus infection)

Directions: Pour 8 ounces of natural distilled water into a coffee cup, and then add the pickling salt, baking soda, and Burt Bees Baby Wash. Then stir, and heat the cup in the microwave for 1 minute. Pour the solution into the neti- pot.

Directions for how to use a neti-pot:

Bend your head to the left side, and insert the spout of the neti-pot into the left nostril. Tip the neti- pot, so that a stream of water flows through your nasal cavity, and pours into the sink. Repeat for the other nostril. Only use about 4 ounces of water for each nostril.

Works Cited

Cazden, Joanna. Everyday Voice Care: The Lifestyle Guide for Singers and Talkers. Hal Leonard, 2012.

Jathar, Rutuja. “Neti Pot Solution.” Buzzle, 1 Aug. 2016, http://www.buzzle.com/articles/neti-pot-solution.html.

Seidu, Luqman. “Allergy- Proof Your Environment.” WebMD, LLC., 30 March 2016, http://www.webmd.com/allergies/allergies-allergy-proofing-environment#1.

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. Violet also teaches a musical theater class at Miss Cindy's School of Dance. Violet 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 music education.