Dr. Jahn answers a readers’ questions about hydration and the voice.
Dear Doctor Jahn,
Would you say that water is the closest thing we have to a “cure-all” when it comes to singing? I mean, I do a lot of singing in bars and clubs and I drink a LOT of water and I really haven’t had issues that other questioners have (hoarseness, sore-throats etc.)
-Gus
Dear Gus,
Since our bodies are mostly water, it would make sense that staying wet will allow our bodies to function optimally. I normally recommend drinking eight 8 oz. glasses of water a day, but this should be increased if you are exercising and perspiring.
Water is the common currency of our cells, both inside and out, and it is the main vehicle for our circulation; it allows for the exchange of nutrients and the elimination of wastes. Specifically, from the singer’s point of view, the vocal folds need to be both hydrated from the inside, and lubricated on their surface. Surface lubrication comes from glands in the ventricles just above the vocal folds, and requires (surprise!) drinking water.
This allows them to move more easily, approximate more exactly, and, most importantly, it reduces trauma to the mucous membranes.
When you ice skate, your blades actually slide on a very thin layer of water, which is ice that has been melted by the weight of your body pushing down on the skates.
Similarly, when singing, especially in the high range, the vocal folds make contact through a thin film of water. If this layer of water is missing or inadequate due to lack of hydration, the mucous membranes rub against each other, causing inflammation, swelling and possible injury.
The other good thing about drinking so much water during your gigs is that you are drinking less alcohol! Alcohol dehydrates your body and increases the likelihood of trauma to the dried mucous membrane surface.
So, keep drinking water, and sing on!
The Benefits of Sipping and Swallowing During Gigs
Dear Doctor Jahn,
I’ve heard that the water you drink never actually touches your vocal folds. So why does it feel so good to drink water during my gigs, if the water isn’t even coming in contact with them?
– Jerry
Dear Jerry,
You’re absolutely right: the water you swallow does not touch your vocal folds. Indeed, if it did, you would start to cough and choke, as happens when your drink goes down “the wrong way.”
The vocal folds are sensitive to touch and spring into action to protect your trachea and lower airway from anything you might eat or drink.
So where does the water go? Well, there is a lot more to the vocal tract than the vocal folds.
The mouth, the tongue, your pharynx (the back of the throat, which begins behind the nose and extends down to just above the larynx), including all of the structures above and behind the larynx—these all are involved in singing.
From the pharyngeal point of view, singing is little more than muscular effort, vibration, and a constant drying flow of exhaled air rushing past. All of these activities are made easier by lubrication, both of the mucous membrane surfaces (as water rushes by) and internally (as you rehydrate). The cooling and possible increase in humidity in the vocal tract from drinking may further facilitate the vocal effort.
There is yet another aspect to consider, however. When you sing, especially with some strain, you contract one set of muscles, often over a period of time. The act of swallowing activates another set of muscles. During the swallow, the singing muscles get to relax, and even get a bit of passive stretch, which feels good—a bit like relaxing a tightly clenched fist after a minute or two. And here is the most interesting one: swallowing stimulates the vagus nerve, a nerve that has many functions, including slowing the heart rate.
In moments of high effort or excitement, this cardiac effect may feel welcome. Taken all together, the very act of swallowing gives you and your larynx a “breather,” a moment of respite before you start to contract the singing muscles again.
When to Drink Water and Why
Dear Doctor Jahn,
Everyone always says “drink water well before your gig” because the water doesn’t touch the folds but needs to be absorbed before it can hydrate the voice. But it always feels good to drink water as I’m performing! So I am wondering if this is not the whole truth! Does the immediate effect of the water on the mouth/throat lining above the vocal folds also, in some way, impact the lining on the vocal folds and therefore help my singing immediately?
– Kevin
Dear Kevin,
Consider what happens when you perform:
Your mouth is open and you may be sweating, two facts that add to your insensible water loss.
It is somewhat like exercising—you’re losing more water and need to replace it. Most importantly, however, the excitement of the performance pumps adrenaline, causing what is called a sympathetic response. Adrenaline shuts off many of the secretory glands, and guess what? Your mouth and throat get dry. So definitely drink, not just before the show for hydration (but don’t overload your stomach), but also during the show. All of this is why you report feeling good.
As a general principle, hydration is good. More specifically, as a singer your entire respiratory and vocal tract benefits from drinking water. So as a baseline, I recommend drinking water throughout the day.
It is best to spread this over your day, like “grazing” when you eat. That way, the water is absorbed easily, and you’re not overly distending your stomach, which might impair breathing and support. We generally recommend eight 8 oz. glasses a day, two with each meal and one between meals.
Finally, if you think about what happens when you drink during the show, you will realize that it gives you a little break and causes your larynx to move up and down in the neck, almost like a momentary massage to your vocal tract.
So keep sipping! The bottle or glass of water on stage is now a generally accepted prop, and will not interfere with your performance.
