Singers have a unique situation in caring for their instrument. Unlike other musicians, our instrument is part of our body. This can provide its own individual benefits as well as hurdles to overcome. One of those hurdles is maintaining a state of physical health that allows us to perform at our best. This can prove challenging, as most of us already know.
Today, I wanted to cover a specific health challenge that many singers struggle with, including myself. This challenge is acid reflux. This article will cover what it is, challenges it can cause you as a singer, and ways to navigate it.
What is acid reflux?
Acid reflux is a condition where the acid from your stomach flows back into the esophagus, sometimes all the way back into the throat. This acid often irritates the esophageal lining and, when it does go into the throat, can also irritate your voice. There are two different kinds of acid reflux, GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) and LPR (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux). While these both involve the backward flow of acid, they differ in symptoms, causes, and where the acid travels.
GERD occurs when the acid in your stomach flows backward into the esophagus, but not all the way into the throat. Symptoms of GERD include heartburn, chest pain, regurgitation of food or a sour liquid, difficulty swallowing, and a sour/bitter taste in the mouth.
LPR occurs when the acid doesn’t just flow into the esophagus, but flows through the esophagus into the throat and larynx. Symptoms of LPR include hoarseness or voice changes, a constant need to clear the throat, frequent irritation and/or coughing, feeling a lump in the throat, sore throat, and difficulty swallowing.
How does acid reflux affect the voice?
Both forms of acid reflux can affect the voice due to the discomfort and pain they can cause. GERD affects the voice indirectly, through general discomfort from the esophageal irritation and even swelling. This can affect your ability to properly engage your abdomen to control your breath.
LPR directly affects the voice, since the acid that travels into the throat and the larynx splashes into the vocal cords. The larynx is incredibly sensitive to reflux, since it doesn’t have a protective mucosal lining like the esophagus (hence the irritating symptoms). Frequent tension in the neck, jaw, and tongue can result from these symptoms, which negatively affects your ability to sing efficiently. These symptoms can also have adverse effects on your emotional wellbeing, due to the frustration they can cause.
How can you navigate acid reflux as a singer?
If you have acid reflux, you are not alone. There are many singers who struggle with this and are still able to have successful careers as performers and teachers. You might want to consider consulting a healthcare provider for feedback if you find your symptoms are frequently recurring. A few lifestyle modifications you can try to reduce symptoms are elevating your head slightly while sleeping, avoiding clothing that puts too much pressure around the abdomen, remaining upright after eating for a while and having good posture. You can also try limiting intake on caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, spicy foods, tomatoes, citrus, and fried/fatty foods. You will find, through trial and error, what works for you.
