As singers, you MUST learn to take care of your instrument: your body. You are the only one who can really listen to how your body feels. When a singer gets sick, it often takes several weeks for the voice to return to a healthy state. It is very frustrating when you want to sing but can’t, or when you have a singing engagement that you have to cancel.

Every year I experience the effects of the cold in the voice studio. Strep throat is the primary culprit and is getting worse year after year.

Most colds will show signs of improvement within a few days or a week at the latest. but ALWAYS monitor yourself and get to the doctor right away if you feel that he cold is not improving. I recommend that if you need to see a doctor that you ask for a strep test. Strep throat is a bacterial infection. It can hit you in a hurry - most likely starting with a quick and severe sore throat and a high fever. It is highly contagious and if untreated, can lead to other illnesses such as rheumatic fever, acute nephritis and meningitis.

Prevention is better than cure

Wash Hands Frequently

Always wash your hands with soap and warm water for no less than 30 seconds. Get in the habit of washing your hands when you come home from work or school. Be mindful of touching your mouth, nose and eyes with "contaminated" hands. ALWAYS wash your hands before you put in or take out your contact lenses. Carry a hand sanitizer in your bag in case you need it, but be careful of “over-sanitizing”, the alcohol sanitizers destroy many of the good oils on your skin.

Dose up

The best way to prevent the cold is to take a daily vitamin and establish healthy nutrition. Taking more vitamin C during the cold and flu months is advisable. Drink lots of orange juice or eat oranges daily. Check your vitamin bottles to make sure you are not taking too much of a vitamin/mineral dose.

Echinacea is an herb that is thought to help to boost the immune system. You can take it in capsule form or you can it drink in tea. If taken in capsule form, you should take them everyday for about 2 week cycles. (On for 2 weeks, off for 2 weeks.)

Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Zinc, Goldenseal, slippery Elm and Garlic are all common remedies for preventing and healing colds and sore throats.

Water & Humidifiers

You MUST drink a large amount of water each and every day to keep your body and throat hydrated. It is VERY important that you use a humidifier in your house or at least in the room that you sleep in. The dry winter air will make you even more susceptible to catching colds. Look for a cool mist humidifier. I run my humidifier all year round.

Sleep

Your body is capable of fighting off a lot of illness if you are well rested. When you start to feel even a little tired and run down your immune system slows down. Get eight hours of sleep, and more if you are feeling under the weather.

Daily Exercise

Keep your body in shape and your immune system healthy by committing to a daily exercise regimen.

Treatment of colds

If you're unlucky enough to catch a cold despite your best efforts, you have to let it run its course, but there are things you can do to alleviate the symptoms.

Congestion

Congestion is the mass production of mucus that the body needs to fight the cold germs. Always try to cough or blow out the mucus. It is possible for the mucus to settle in the throat and harbor infection. This is rare, but always blow your nose or cough as opposed to sniffing or clearing your throat.

The Neti Pot is a small tea pot that is used to wash out the nasal passages. You fill the Neti Pot with arm saline (salt) solution and then poured into the nostrils. It is good for allergies and colds as it helps to alleviate nasal congestion.

Fluids

Drink lots of fluids to keep yourself hydrated. Hot tea is a great way to steam out the throat and nasal passages and break up and flush out some of the mucus. I keep cold, congestion and throat teas on hand so when the slightest cold symptoms show up I don’t have to run to the store. I also keep a supply of tea and lozenges with me at all times. Check out the tea selections at your local grocery stores. Look for cold care, respiratory care, throat care teas.

Steam

Steam is great for breaking up deep congestion and open up breathing passages. Take hot baths and showers. You can invest in a small facial steamer or use a pot of steaming water and a towel to try to breathe in warm steam.

Mentholated rubs

I highly suggest that you use a vapor rub also. These are not always the most pleasant, but they really are good for helping you to breathe a little bit easier. Make sure to put on a good amount on the throat, chest, and upper back.

Lozenges

Using throat lozenges is a good way to soothe sore throats. While menthol based lozenges provide fast relief, they are not always the best for singers because menthol is a drying agent and will dry out your throat. Try to use herbal based lozenges such as Celestial Seasonings or Riccola. These lozenges often contain honey, lemon and chamomile which are less drying on the throat.

Rest

A few days of rest can really help your body fight the cold. You may feel that there are things you just have to do, but running yourself down even more will mean a much longer recovery period. Your body is telling you that it’s sick, so listen to it. Stay home if you have a fever until 24 hours after the fever has broken.

And do reschedule your lessons as soon as you feel ill — your teacher really doesn’t want to get sick!