Denver Voice Doc Offers DNC Delegates Advice to Hold Onto Their Voice!

    DENVER, Aug. 25 /
EMWNews
/ -- With the volume on high for the five

days of the Democratic National Convention, DNC delegates may want to heed

advice from Denver's Dr. Andre Reed, one of the country's leading voice

experts, to ensure their voices stay audible and healthy for the duration

of the Convention. Dr. Reed is a Denver-based neurolaryngologist and

medical director of the Center for Voice & Swallowing Services, and he

treats anyone with vocal dysfunction including many actors and singers that

struggle to keep their vocal cords healthy for the run of their show or

concert tour. Dr. Reed has recommendations for delegates likely to overuse

and abuse their most important organ, which is complicated by Denver's dry,

mountain air. His advice may help DNC delegates and its presumptive

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama from going hoarse or losing

their voice at one of the most important times for their Party. For more

information on Dr. Reed go to http://www.voiceandswallow.com.



    Allow for Altitude and Watch the Martinis



    The dry, mountain air can cause vocal problems and shortness of breath.

To reduce the risk of vocal fatigue and hoarseness, Dr. Reed recommends

drinking 64 oz. of water daily. Also, alcohol dehydrates the body and the

vocal cords, so it is advisable to minimize cocktails, wine and beer

especially at the beginning of the Convention, if possible.



    Skip Late Night Room Service, and Watch for LPR



    Even though parties go into the night, delegates who come back to their

hotel late and order a snack or the dinner they didn't get to eat may want

to think twice. Vocal fatigue may be compounded by not treating

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), a common, yet largely unknown condition

afflicting many frequent talkers. "With LPR, stomach gases make their way

into the voicebox region and over time they erode tissues and muscles of

the throat. Symptoms of LPR include chronic throat clearing, sensation of

something in the back of the throat, and voice change or hoarseness," Reed

says. Late night eating is one of the habits that can exacerbate LPR and

Dr. Reed advises no eating two hours before bedtime to help minimize this

risk.



    In Bronco Stadium Watch the Screaming!



    Dr. Reed reminds fervent Obama delegates and supporters who will pack

the Bronco stadium for Obama's acceptance speech that prolonged screaming

overworks larynx muscles and vocal load. According to Reed, "Our screams

are meant to be short -- to scare the beast away. Biologically, our vocal

cords are set up to scream for only a short period, with breath support.

Human screaming was never meant to be sustained and repeated."



    For Barack Obama, Reed recommends he practice projecting his voice from

his abdomen and diaphragm, and combine it with good breath support which

will help in not straining neck muscles and voicebox. And of course, Reed

recommends that he rest his voice the day of his speech if possible.



    A Quick Voice Therapy Tip



    "One simple and practical recommendation for delegates and others

attending the DNC and whose voices will take a beating, is 'phonating,' or

speaking into a straw for three to five minutes. This simple action will

help 'reset' the voice for more durability throughout the day."

Professional instruction is recommended.