Singers, speakers, actors, and anybody who uses his or her voice as a tool knows the importance of throat clearing to free the throat of mucus in order to project a strong, in-tune voice. For example, learning proper throat clearing techniques can help a singer to more effectively hit high notes, sing in scales and improve general performance. Though most people can clear their throats by simply expelling excess mucus, some people need to take additional measures. Clearing your throat involves coughing, drinking lemon juice in water, avoiding dairy products and smoke, and may even involve seeking medical help if your throat continues to feel obstructed. Because coughing and throat clearing can be traumatic and cause injury to your vocal folds, the key is to start with the simplest, least irritating method and work your way to stronger methods, reducing the damage to your throat. The following steps will teach you how to clear your throat.
- 1Clear your throat without contracting your throat area. Coughing and overusing the throat can create wear and tear on the vocal chords. The following method will protect your voice.
- Sharply sniff, then swallow. Repeat if necessary.
- 2Drink lemon juice in water without ice.
- Squeeze a quarter of a lemon into a tall glass of water. Sip this slowly for 25 to 30 minutes. Lemon water is helpful for cutting through extra mucus.
- 3Avoid dairy products.
- Dairy products such as milk, yogurt and cheese create more mucus in the body, including in the throat and nasal passages. Eliminating dairy from your diet, or cutting back significantly, should decrease the amount of mucus in your throat and reduce the necessity for throat clearing. If you can't eliminate or cut back on dairy, you should try to avoid it on days you need a clear throat, for instance on performance days.
- 4Clear your throat the usual way. Most people clear their throat with an audible noise, ahem. The quieter this is done, the less damage is done to the vocal folds.
- Start with a modest, small cough. Spit out any excess mucus that enters your mouth as a result.
- Repeat this process, making your coughs slightly louder if necessary, until your throat is clear.
- 6Stop smoking and stay away from second-hand smoke. Smoking, whether you're the one smoking or it's somebody around you, creates mucus build up
- 7Treat any allergies you have.
- 8Pollen, dust mites and dander can all trigger allergies, which in turn trigger the excess production of mucus. If you suffer from allergies, use anti-histamine medication to prevent the symptoms from affecting you.
- 9Seek medical help.
- If you can't clear your throat after following the steps above, seek medical help as there might be a more serious medical reason you can't clear your throat. There are medications your doctor can prescribe to help thin mucus.
- Drink more water throughout the day. Sometimes people feel like they have too much mucus when the actual problem is having mucus that is too thick. Increasing your water intake will gradually help thin your mucus.
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Categories: Respiratory Health
Recent edits by: Jeffrey, Xonnie, ElizabethD