Emotional or environmental stress also causes voice strain. Especially major changes like separation/ divorce, new job, kids going off to college, grieving, not enough sleep, moving, and even hormonal changes in adolescents or maturing adults. If you add any of these with need for a quality voice, you will need to take extra care in order not to bruise or damage your throat center or vocal cords.

Voice Maintenance

When experiencing laryngitis, limit unnecessary talking, and pause frequently to swallow and remoisten your throat, even during speaking engagements. Relaxation techniques, like yoga always help, yet conscious aware of your posture and breathing during speaking can save or further bruise voice projection especially if your voice is weak from a cold.

One of my favorite exercises that I do every morning or while driving to a speaking engagement is a vowel review. Stretch your neck comfortable upwards and recite vowels -- a, e, i, o, u. Let your vowel trail off after each one especially "u." If experiencing laryngitis avoid whispering. Whispering actually stresses vocal cords reducing recovery significantly. If you smoke or visit smoke-filled rooms, triple your maintenance plan, smoke is very damaging.

If you lose your voice, you will require additional rest time over a 4-7 day period. This means limiting your voice to 15 minutes a day. Looking on bright side, listening skills will definitely improve. Keep phone calls brief; avoid all non-speech voice use, including throat clearing, coughing, and sneezing or any odd sound effects. Snoring also doubles strain.

Over-the-Counter

Even though they give brief relief, throat sprays and medicated lozenges dry throat and extend recovery. If used for an emergency, you must follow with extreme care.

Herbs can also cause side effects. You will want to discuss their use with your doctor or herb practitioner. Herbs like barberry reduce inflammation and infection caused from respiratory infections, but can also cause an allergic reaction especially if already using another remedy. Herbs like eucalyptus, German chamomile, goldenrod, goldenseal, licorice, marshmallow, peppermint, saw palmetto, or slippery elm are remedies for vocal cord inflections. Adding garlic and ginger to your foods also reduce cold symptoms including sore throat and don't need professional advice.

Support Team

If your voice is vital to your income, you will want to have an ear, nose, and throat physician familiar with your medical history and working with singers. With an ongoing relationship, it’s easier for them to provide advice when out of area.

Last year, while experiencing a mild case of laryngitis, I saw my doctor before I left for a speaking engagement but I didn't know to mentioned I was traveling to a high elevation. By time I checked in at hotel, I was in bad shape. An emergency call and I was armed with new instructions. The next morning I was fine. Did you know that most taxi companies will pick up and deliver called-in prescriptions usually at same rate as a cab ride?

(c) Copyright 2005, Catherine Franz. All rights reserved.

* Don't Touch Your Face. As shown in previous example, touching your eyes, nose or mouth is a common way people become infected with flu virus.

* Stay Away From Sick People. Okay, this one's a little obvious but worth mentioning. Just remember that this method of prevention alone, along with not always being practical, is not foolproof. A person can spread flu virus a full day before showing any symptoms.

Practicing general wellness can also provide some protection from flu. After all, your body can fight flu virus better when it has a healthy head start. Remember to follow these healthy habits:

* Drink Plenty of Water. Most adults need 64 ounces of fluids a day.

* Exercise Regularly. The CDC recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise for 5 days a week.

* Eat Well-Balanced Meals. Be sure to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Don't rely on vitamin supplements to provide your nutrients; they don't contain phytochemicals found in fruits and vegetables.

* Get Plenty of Rest. Experts recommend adults get between 7-9 hours of sleep per night.

Protect yourself from flu this season. There's no way to guarantee you won't contract flu, but you can certainly minimize your chances of being infected with virus. Stay healthy and, should you be unfortunate enough to get flu, please stay home!