Seasonal Allergies and Your Voice

As Spring progresses, lawn grass will need mowing, and more and more tree blossoms and flowers will bloom, releasing their pollens into the air. Although many people look forward to Spring, people who have seasonal allergies are more likely to dread it, as they either remain indoors as much as possible or reach for over-the-counter antihistamines to get relief from their runny or stuffy noses, itchy, puffy eyes or their persistent coughs. Antihistamines work because they help to dry up extra secretions in the nasal passages. It shouldn't be too surprising therefore to learn that antihistamines can also dry out the vocal cords (more correctly called, folds), our sound source for voice production. So, if you use antihistamines, it's even more important than usual to drink plenty of water to maintain optimal hydration for the proper functioning of the vocal folds. Cheers!