How to Work through a Cold in Voice Acting - Stuffy Nose
As voice actors, we have to accept the facts sometimes: we’re human. And as humans, we get sick and since using our voice is how we work, getting sick can really affect our lives (and our income). We can try our best to prevent getting sick; washing our hands frequently, avoiding large crowds of people during flu season, never leaving the sound booth, etc. But in case you do get sick, here are a few remedies you to conquer that cold and get back to sounding “normal” again (whatever that means for you!)
To Remedy a Stuffy Nose:
1) Use a Saline Spray - Using a nasal saline spray can increase the moisture in your nostrils. The spray helps thin the mucus in your nasal passages. This decreases the inflammation of your blood vessels and helps empty fluids from your nose. Some saline sprays also include decongestant medication. Talk to your doctor before you begin using saline sprays with decongestants. They may actually make your congestion worse if used for more than three days.
2) Take a Warm Shower - Have you ever had a stuffy nose and found that you could breathe so much better after a hot shower? There’s a good reason for that. The steam from a shower helps to thin out the mucus in your nose and reduce inflammation. Taking a hot shower can help your breathing return to normal, at least for a little while.
3) Use a Humidifier - this provides a quick, easy way to relieve a stuffy nose. The machine converts water to moisture that slowly fills the air, increasing the humidity in a room. Breathing in this moist air can soothe irritated tissues and swollen blood vessels in your nose and sinuses. Humidifiers also thin the mucus in your sinuses. This can help empty the fluids in your nose and return your breathing to normal. Put a humidifier in your room to ease the inflammation causing your congestion.
4) Stay Hydrated - Keep the fluids flowing when your nose is stuffed up. Almost all liquids can help keep you hydrated when you’re sick, including water, sports drinks, and even juice. They help thin the mucus in your nasal passages, pushing the fluids out of your nose and decreasing the pressure in your sinuses. Less pressure means less inflammation and irritation.
5) Teas - If you have a sore throat, certain teas like Throat Coat can help. Evidence suggests it may help lubricate your throat, which may be useful in warding off hoarseness and pain. Chamomile tea is known to have anti-inflammatory properties to reduce swelling and redness. And don’t forget good old chicken soup.
6) Drain your Sinuses - It’s not the most glamorous task, but you can flush your clogged nostrils with a neti pot. A neti pot is a container designed to flush mucus and fluids out of your nasal passages. The FDA recommends using distilled or sterile water instead of tap water.
Here’s how to use a neti pot: Stand with your head over a sink. Place the spout of the neti pot in one nostril. Tilt the neti pot until water enters your nasal passage. Once the water flows into your nostril, it will come out through your other nostril and empty into the sink. Do this for about one minute, and then switch sides.
7) Use a Warm Compress - A warm compress may help unclog a stuffy nose by opening the nasal passages from the outside. To make a warm compress, first soak a towel in warm water. Squeeze the water out of the towel, then fold it and place it over your nose and forehead. The warmth can provide comfort from any pain and help relieve the inflammation in the nostrils. Repeat this as often as necessary.
If you’re looking for quick, simple congestion relief, you can create a hot or cold pack using items you have at home: For a ready-made cold pack, take a bag of frozen peas or other frozen vegetables out of your freezer, wrap it in a towel, and lay it across your face. For a hot pack, wring out a wet washcloth and heat it in the microwave for approximately one minute. Before laying it across your face, be sure to check that it’s not too hot.
8) Use a Mentholated Salve - Try a small dab under your nose. It opens up breathing passages. Menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor all have mild numbing ingredients that may help relieve the pain of a nose rubbed raw. Vicks Vapo-Rub is a common salve to use.
9) Sleep at an Elevated Angle - Add extras pillows under your head to prop yourself up. Do this at night when you sleep to help relieve congested nasal passages. If the angle is too awkward, place the pillows between the mattress and the box-springs to create a more gradual slope.
10) Eat or Inhale Steam from Garlic Cloves - Garlic is believed to have both anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that make it useful in treating a host of problems, including congestion related to colds. For those who aren’t fond of the pungent taste and smell of raw garlic, try garlic sautéed with vegetables or pasta. You can also breathe in some garlic steam: Slice up a few cloves of garlic and put them in a small pot along with a cup of water, heat until steaming, and then carefully inhale the garlic steam at arm’s length.
11) Snack on Horseradish - Horseradish, which is in the same family as mustard and wasabi, is an old home remedy to clear sinuses and promote the expulsion of mucus. Add horseradish to your favorite sandwich, or blend 1 tablespoon horseradish, 1 teaspoon olive oil, and 1 teaspoon lemon juice and spread on a cracker. Nibble until you feel your stuffy nose start to drain. You can also toss the grated root into cooked rice or mashed potatoes. If your problem is chronic, try eating horseradish at the start of your symptoms. You’ll quickly rid your body of any stagnant mucus, which can act as a breeding ground for bacteria and infection.
12) Make a Hot Ginger Compress - Slice up a three-inch piece of ginger root for this home remedy, and add to a saucepan of two cups of boiling water. Cover and simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Soak a washcloth in the brew, making sure it’s not too hot to burn your skin, then apply to your face for 15 minutes or so. Do this lying on the couch with your head elevated to help your sinuses drain. Because of ginger’s anti-inflammatory properties, drinking a hot cup of ginger tea will also open up congested nasal passages.
13) Steam with Antiseptic Herbs - Place 3 teaspoons of dried thyme and 3 teaspoons dried peppermint (or three peppermint tea bags) in a small heatproof bowl and add boiling water. Lean over the bowl, covering your head and the bowl with a thick towel, and inhale for 10 minutes, keeping your face and nose eight to 10 inches above the water. Repeat two to three times a day, as needed, until you don’t feel as stuffy. Thyme is antibacterial and the menthol in mint is a natural decongestant that eases breathing. You can also use oregano or rosemary as alternative herbs to use.
14) Sip on Apple Cider Vinegar - Next time you have a stuffy nose, grab the apple cider vinegar. This all-around home remedy contains potassium, which thins mucus; and the acetic acid in it prevents bacteria growth, which could contribute to nasal congestion. Mix a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and drink to help sinus drainage.
15) Eat Cayenne Pepper or Turmeric - The capsaicin in cayenne pepper and the cur cumin in Turmeric dries up mucus in the nasal passages, making it easier to breathe. It is also an anti-inflammatory spice and can decrease stuffy feelings in the nose. Sprinkle cayenne pepper or turmeric on your favorite meals, or sip a spicy tea by adding 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or turmeric powder to a cup of boiling water.
16) Eat or Smell an Onion - Onions are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Smelling a peeled onion for a few minutes may prove effective in clearing nasal congestion and facilitate easy breathing. Eating onions is beneficial as well - add raw or sauteed onions to your meals to absorb the nutrients that will decrease your mucus build-up.
17) Using Lemon and Black Pepper - This pungent treatment can treat that nasty blocked nose! Mix 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and about half a teaspoon of black pepper powder with a bit of salt and apply this mixture on to your nose, leave it on for a few minutes and watch the magic.
18) Using Honey - Honey is a powerhouse of nutrients. Just two teaspoons of pure honey consumed in the morning and at night, or in accompaniment with lukewarm water, milk or tea can prove as a great remedy for your stuffy nose. So don't forget to make it a part of your bedtime routine.
19) Eat Spicy Foods - If you are a spice-lover, now is the time to binge into all of your favorite spicy food. Foods like red chilies, peppers, onions, garlic are all things to include in your meals, it will help in thinning the mucus in your head and nose.
We hope that these simple remedies can help with getting you back in the booth!
