Voice change period has arrived—how to protect your voice

Nov 27, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Ren Yi
Introduction
To protect the voice during the voice-changing period, one can generally control the intensity of voice use, keep the throat moist, adjust dietary habits, avoid irritating factors, and ensure sufficient rest. Avoid speaking loudly, shouting, or singing for prolonged periods to reduce excessive vocal fatigue. When speaking, maintain a moderate volume and a steady pace. If engaging in extended conversations, take appropriate breaks to allow the vocal cords to relax.

During the voice-changing period, protecting the vocal cords can generally be achieved by controlling vocal intensity, keeping the throat moist, adjusting diet, avoiding irritants, and ensuring adequate rest. Specific measures are as follows:

1. Control vocal intensity: Avoid prolonged loud talking, shouting, or singing to reduce excessive strain on the voice. Speak at a moderate volume and steady pace. If extended conversation is necessary, take periodic breaks to allow the vocal cords to relax and prevent congestion and swelling that could interfere with the voice-changing process.

2. Keep the throat moist: Drink warm water frequently in small amounts throughout the day—do not wait until you are thirsty—to keep the throat mucosa consistently hydrated and minimize irritation caused by dryness. Warm honey water (not exceeding 60°C) may also be consumed moderately to soothe the throat and relieve mild discomfort after vocal use.

3. Adjust dietary habits: Reduce intake of spicy, fried, very cold, or very hot foods, as these can easily irritate the throat lining and trigger inflammation. Increase consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins to provide essential nutrients for healthy vocal cord development. Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption to prevent damage from harmful substances.

4. Avoid irritants: Stay away from smoky, dusty, or greasy environments. If exposure is unavoidable, wear a mask to reduce inhalation of irritants. Also avoid catching colds, as respiratory infections often cause throat inflammation, increasing stress on the vocal cords and impairing recovery during the voice-changing phase. Dress warmly and take preventive measures accordingly.

5. Ensure sufficient rest: Aim for 8–9 hours of sleep each night and avoid staying up late, allowing both body and vocal cords adequate recovery time. Sleep deprivation weakens immunity and may lead to throat discomfort. Sufficient rest helps maintain vocal health and supports a smooth transition through the voice-changing period.

If symptoms such as persistent throat pain, hoarseness lasting more than two weeks, or difficulty swallowing occur during the voice-changing phase, seek medical attention promptly.

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