At election time, politicians make more speeches than usual, endangering their vocal cords.
Ordinary voters encounter their elected representatives mainly at rallies and political roadshows, come election time. For attendees there is the travel, the long, hot wait, the dust and thirst, before the motorcade or helicopter descends and the politician delivers his stump speech before moving on.
Spare a thought for the poor speechmaker, the politician who speaks tens of thousands of words a day — to associates, on the phone, as well as into microphones at rally after noisy rally where nobody gives a thought to the acoustics.
His is one of a few professions, like singing, teaching, athletics coaching and practising law, which places so much stress on the voice.
Speaking loudly for extended periods has health effects. It damages the vocal cords, which can result in hoarseness. It causes the throat muscles to tighten, which can make breathing shallower and less efficient. To overcome this, the speaker may be forced to raise his voice. But shouting while hoarse can further damage the vocal cords.
Will a soothing drink help? Tea and carbonated drinks are common. But both have a net drying effect. As do coffee and alcohol (or smoking), which may be useful as a pick-me-up or confidence-booster for the nervous politico, but can be harmful if lots of speaking is called for.
Inevitably the air that one inhales is drier than the warm, moist air the larynx likes best — especially if the speaker travels in airconditioned comfort.
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The vocal cords need to be moist to work well. If they become too dry, the protective mucous lining becomes more viscous, and the cords don’t vibrate properly. Over time the membranes under the mucous lining become prone to infection.
Stress can also cause acid reflux from the stomach, which may further damage the larynx. Many fruit juices contain citric acid, which can be an irritant. Sipping lukewarm water is by far the best choice, but even so, the mucus glands can only work slowly. Drinking water is not an instant solution.
What can a frequent speaker do to safeguard his voice, that valuable professional tool? Give it a rest: make sure of quiet periods during the day. Avoid coughing and clearing the throat aggressively. Eat lightly, and not spicy foods. Above all, reduce tension: a stressed voice sounds stressed, and studies show that can trigger negative reactions in listeners.
