- There is an epidemic of sorts running
rampant among singers.
Symptoms include reduced range,
raspy sound, discomfort when singing,
a continuous lump in the throat
as well as reduced vocal stamina.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms,
then it may well be that you are suffering from reflux.
(cheering)
(upbeat music)
Hello everybody, welcome to Voice Essentials
where everybody sings.
My name is Dr. Dan and I'm a contemporary
singing voice specialist, it's my job
to help you get the very best out of your singing voice.
Today we are going to discuss reflux
and its adverse effects on the voice.
Now before you click away thinking
that this video doesn't apply to you
let me quickly state that many singers
don't realize they have reflux because
the common indicators of heartburn
and indigestion don't necessarily apply.
It's the absence of these two symptoms,
heartburn and indigestion, that lead us to refer
to the type of reflux we'll be discussing today,
as silent reflux or singer's reflux.
Because it's often the singers who notice
the effect of silent reflux first.
So, what is it?
Well, reflux simply understood,
is the reverse flow of stomach acids up the esophagus.
Of course, stomach acid should,
under normal circumstances, stay in the stomach.
But in some people, and I'm one of them,
the back flow causes an agitation
and burning of the esophageal lining and vocal tract.
Very quickly, by way of warning,
I'm about to show you the inside
of a larynx suffering from reflux.
If you feel queasy looking at body parts then
you might like to look away.
And special thanks to Dr. Matthew Broadhurst
for allowing me to use this footage.
Now generally speaking, the internals of the larynx
what we're looking at here, have a light pinky hue.
Here you can see that the rear
of the larynx has a deeper red color.
In particular, you'll notice that the arytenoids,
those two lumps at the top of your screen,
the rear of the larynx, are a little swollen.
In fact, in this video, we can see that the surrounding
musculature is also more red than usual.
All told, this video is classic reflux,
requiring a two-pronged, therapeutic response.
But before we talk about treatment,
let's first discuss what causes the reflux
and how it affects the voice.
(applause)
There are several things that can induce reflux.
Common risk factors include being overweight,
heightened and sustained stress levels and smoking.
Certain food groups like citrus, tomato,
chocolate and spicy foods also contribute to reflux.
Beverages such as coffee and alcohol
and carbonated drinks all add to the risk.
I know what you're thinking, the list contains
many of the good things in life, it's a bummer hey.
But left unattended, reflux can have a seriously
negative impact on your voice.
A voice affected by reflux will often
sound and feel raspy, some people complain
of a constant lump in the throat
which can make it uncomfortable to sing, talk and swallow.
And I know when I've let my reflux get out of control
because my range, vocal agility and stamina
are all compromised big time.
And more importantly, chronic reflux,
when not treated and managed
can lead to cancer of the esophagus,
a condition that has an extremely low survival rate.
Ultimately there's more at stake here than your singing.
If you suspect you're suffering from reflux
then I advise you to visit your family doctor
who will be best placed to direct your care.
As a prelude to your medical consult,
let's preview what their response may include.
(applause)
Okay, so how do we treat and manage singer's reflux?
Great question, the answer is two-fold.
Lifestyle and medicinal, and in that order.
Best practice always addresses lifestyle first.
So lifestyle changes such as losing weight,
quitting the smokes and learning to manage your stress
all lead to healthy outcomes.
Personally, my big three are spicy foods,
I love hot Thai curries, double shot flat white coffees,
and scotch whiskey.
If I feel my reflux starting to flare up
I immediately assess my lifestyle
habits in these three areas.
Your stimulants could be different,
for example, they might include citrus,
tomato-based foods or even garlic.
Moderate your diet and your reflux
will often improve significantly.
You should also avoid eating or snacking
three hours before you go to bed
to allow your food to digest and move
beyond the stomach into the small intestine.
You might also like to try raising your bed head
up onto three house-bricks when you sleep.
Having your head raised up above your belly
when you sleep helps your stomach acids
to remain in the stomach.
It feels weird to sleep on a slant
for the first few nights, but after
about a week or so you get used to it.
And if you're like me then despite your best attempts
to manage your reflux through lifestyle change,
you might require some medical intervention.
Now in my personal case, our family doctor
has prescribed a daily 40 mg dose of Nexium
delivered as a once a day tablet.
And for most folks, 20-40 mg daily will suffice.
Now if you're reflux is really out of control,
however, your doctor may prescribe
a double dosage for a short period of time
just to get it back into a safe and managed zone.
The drug Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor
that reduces the amount of acid your stomach produces.
There are other drugs, other proton pump inhibitors,
include Prevacid and Protonix, your doctor
may also prescribe an over the counter antacid
such as Mylanta or Gavascon, for those moments when
the reflux really flares up,
especially straight after meals.
As always, your family doctor is best placed
to diagnose and prescribe a medical response,
so make sure you book an appointment
if you suspect reflux is impacting
on the quality of your singing voice.
I wonder whether you suffer from reflux like me,
how do you manage it and its effect on your singing?
Leave a comment below so that we can
all learn from your experience.
If this is your first time watching
one of my videos, good day!
Allow me to invite you over to my channel
for many more videos just like this one.
My channel has been designed to develop
your voice and improve your sound.
I hope you'll take the time to subscribe
and join our ever-growing community
of singers from across the globe.
I'll see you again soon.
I'm Dr. Dan, sing well.