On April 16, a holiday is celebrated, the name of which initially evokes associations with the topic of human vocal abilities. We are talking about International Voice Day. In fact, this holiday, the idea of celebrating which appeared in the late 1990s, is dedicated to the phenomenon of the human voice and its role in people's lives.
The establishment of the international holiday was initiated by the American Academy of Otolaryngology in 2002. The purpose of establishing International Voice Day is to attract the attention of medical specialists, as well as all people on Earth, to the phenomenon of the human voice - a gift that allows people to communicate, express their emotions and feelings, delight with the beauty of sound, etc.; as well as the need to prevent voice problems, rehabilitate deviant or diseased voices, train artistic voices, and study the functions and uses of the voice.
Traditionally, on April 16, in honor of the holiday, various events are held with the participation of doctors whose specialization is directly or indirectly related to maintaining the health of a person’s voice, preventing and treating diseases of the vocal apparatus. Seminars, lectures and symposia bring together doctors both at the regional and international levels, allowing them to exchange experiences. Individual events (open days and concerts) are held by representatives of professions where the voice plays a key role: announcers, television and radio presenters, singers, artists, journalists and others.
In the modern world, many take the voice for granted and do not think about the burden placed on this fragile instrument. Medical specialists and professionals whose work and vocation are related to the vocal apparatus tirelessly repeat that in order to preserve the voice and prevent diseases of the vocal apparatus, it is first of all necessary to adhere to simple (basic) rules of a healthy lifestyle. For example, in the summer you should not drink ice-cold drinks, and in the cold season you should not get too cold or drink carbonated drinks, and you should not eat very spicy, hot or salty foods.
Among the main causes of voice problems, experts also name bad habits (primarily smoking), as well as neglect to prevent colds, frequent exposure to smoky rooms, the use of certain medications and stressful situations.
By the way, many people mistakenly believe that whispering will help reduce the load on the vocal cords. However, according to experts, it only increases their overstrain. Therefore it should not be considered an alternative.
Among the most interesting and unusual methods of realizing the importance of the voice in everyday life is the method proposed by British experts and called the “Hour of Silence”, when during everyday activity or work it is proposed to stop using the voice for one hour and try to solve all the questions, tasks and problems that have arisen during this time without using it.
It is important to remember that in order for the voice to always remain clean and at its best, it is necessary to monitor its hygiene, take care of it, and if any violations occur, contact specialists in a timely manner.
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