A Singers Greatest Challenge... Staying Healthy and Dealing with Allergies

Allergies can be one of the most difficult things singers have to deal with. They are chronic - once you have them they rarely go away - and they are constantly recurring. Allergies can affect a singer’s most vulnerable assets - the sinuses, lungs and vocal cords.

Allergy symptoms can range from mild to severe but if you suffer from allergies you should start NOW figuring out how to manage them. 

If your allergies are mild then you may be able to get by with a few simple remedies and some over the counter medication. Be careful though, some over the counter allergy medicines may be too drying for singers vocal cords.

Signs that your allergies may be severe:

• You lose your voice throughout the year 

• You get sick multiple times a year

• Your eyes itch and burn and your nose is runny

What to do if your allergies are severe and interfering with your singing?

There are several different options and I think it is important for people to think outside the box and try anything (and everything) that might work for them!

VISIT AN ALLERGIST - this is a doctor that is trained to identify your allergens and treat your symptoms. This was my first stop several years ago when I was getting sick and losing my voice almost every 6 weeks! I was in a pattern that was devastating as a singer… I would get sick, lose my voice, go on medications, get better, regain my voice and then the whole process would start over again! 

So I was tested for allergies and began a regimen of weekly allergy shots. My doctor also diagnosed allergy induced asthma as the cause of my chronic laryngitis. So in addition to an allergy regimen I also began using an asthma inhaler twice daily. While this treatment DID clear up most of my symptoms I felt that the daily steroids I was getting (with the inhaler) was affecting my voice. I noticed changes in my register and tone - basically I couldn’t sing as high or clearly as I had been before… and that wasn't good! So I'm now managing my allergies with over the counter non-steroid medications.

ELIMINATE ALLERGENS IN THE HOME - this can mean getting rid of plush carpets (especially in the bedroom), an abundance of stuffed animals and trying to keep everything as dust free as possible. Dust mites are microscopic organisms that can be inhaled and are highly allergenic. Getting a dust mite cover for your bed and pillows can be a tremendous help!

CONSISTENCY - the most important weapon in fighting allergies is consistency. When you find a medication(s) that works stick with it even when you aren't feeling symptoms! It's amazing how quickly an allergy attack can flare up. I take a daily over the counter allergy tablet (Xyzal is my favorite) along with a daily non-steroid nasal spray (Astepro is my new go to!) If I start to feel stuffy I double up and take a Xyzal twice daily until the symptoms disappear.

I hope some of these tips can be helpful in your fight against allergies. If you have any allergy tips that have worked for you I would love to have you post them in the comments below!

Let your inner light shine! And good luck on the journey...