How to Deal With Seasonal Allergies

Benvenuto, everyone!

With the throes of allergy season upon us, and concert season fast approaching, singers everywhere are fighting to keep their voices strong against the pollen. While I am, by no means, a professional on the subject, I have gathered some useful tips and tricks to help me singing through the spring.

1.     Get plenty of sleep

For singers, getting enough sleep is essential. During allergy season, sleep becomes even more important. Our voices undergo many stressors, and lack of appropriate sleep can be one of the first reasons for a tired voice. Allergies and exhaustion do not mix well.

2.     Over the Counter Medications

Should you feel that tickle in the back of your throat, jump on the trusty old OTC medicines. In my family, we call it the allergy season cocktail, and it may be different for each person, depending on their allergy symptoms. When I suffer through allergy symptoms, I usually take a 24-hour allergy relief like Claritin, an antihistamine like Benadryl, and a nasal decongestant like Sudafed.

3.     Drink lots of water

You can take the best medicines in the world for your allergies and get the most satisfying sleep you’ve ever had, but that means nothing if you haven’t been drinking enough water. Your vocal cords are one of the last parts of your body to hydrate. When your body is wracked with allergy symptoms, your body will use its water resources to fight the allergens instead of hydrating your vocal folds, not to mention the cocktail of medications that will dehydrate you. Drink more water than you think you need!

4.     Drink some tea and pop a cough drop

There’s nothing that soothes a sore throat like a cup of hot tea. As long as the tea is caffeine-free, you have your pick. I find, though, that lemon or mint tea with a bit of honey feels the nicest and works best. You can also use cough drops for a more convenient (and sometimes menthol-y) fix, but it’s always nice to sit down with a cup of warm comfort.

5.     Go on vocal rest

If you know that your allergies affect your voice through the season, start by taking it easy. If your voice is tired, don’t put extra strain on it my singing with full power or even don’t sing at all for a little bit. Use lip trills or sing through a straw to keep your voice warm, but don’t push it.

6.     Ask your doctor about getting a steroid pack.

It’s a week before your concert and allergies have hit you hard, you’ve either lost your voice or it’s fading fast. It may seem hopeless that your voice will rejuvenate before the concert, you may have one last resort. Talk to your doctor about a round of steroids to kickstart your voice for what you need. Just remember to keep extra hydrated and take it easy. While steroids can get your voice moving again, it’s not an absolute fix.

Whether you have a mild runny nose or a full-blown upper respiratory reaction, you have to know how to maintain your voice when allergies hit. If you’re not expecting your immune system to react violently, it’s always good to have a backup plan. I hope this could help. Good luck!

Cantare!