When the air is hazy, your throat may feel dry or scratchy. The Ministry of Health (MOH) says haze can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, even in healthy people [1][2]. If your voice sounds raspy or strained, that’s hoarseness, which can have many causes [3]. A cold, flu or allergy can feel the same as haze irritation [4].
These habits are simple and sensible for most singers. They aren’t medical advice.
1. Check the readings and limit your time outdoors
MOH says reducing outdoor activity and physical exertion can help limit the ill effects of haze [2]. Check the NEA readings before you go out, and plan the day around them.
2. Sip water through the day
MOH says drinking plenty of water may help symptoms such as a dry or itchy throat [2]. Keep a glass or bottle within reach.
3. Talk less in noisy places
Noise makes us push our voices. On a hazy day, choose quiet spots for conversations, and avoid shouting over traffic or music.
4. Keep singing short and easy
Short, gentle sessions suit a tired voice better than long ones. Save the showpiece songs for another week, and stop if your voice feels scratchy or sore.
5. Rest
Sleep, quiet time and a lighter schedule matter. If you have a performance coming up, tell the organiser early if your voice isn’t at its best.
6. Notice what happens next
MOH says symptoms can take up to three days to appear after exposure to haze [2]. If your voice feels different, think back over the last few days, and don’t assume it’s only today.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you have trouble breathing [2], wheezing, chest tightness, worsening asthma, or a cough or sore throat that persists or worsens [4][5]. Haze symptoms can look like a cold, flu or an allergy, so it’s hard to tell by yourself [4]. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) advises seeing a doctor if your voice has been hoarse for more than three weeks, especially without a cold or flu, or if you have pain when speaking or swallowing [3]. We’d add one thing of our own: please don’t sing through it until you’ve been checked. Vocalogy provides voice training and coaching, and we don’t diagnose or treat medical problems.
The bottom line
Looking after your voice on a hazy day comes down to a few small habits: spend less time outdoors, sip water, talk less in noisy places, keep your singing short and easy, and rest. Notice how you feel over the next couple of days, because symptoms can take time to appear. If anything worries you, see a doctor first. A lighter week now is a small price for a voice that’s ready when the air clears.
If you’d like to keep having lessons
You can have lessons from home. See Voice Lessons in the Haze: Studio, Home or Online?, or ask us on WhatsApp.
References
- Ministry of Health, Singapore. Haze. https://www.moh.gov.sg/others/haze/
- Ministry of Health, Singapore. FAQ: Impact of Haze on Health. https://www.moh.gov.sg/newsroom/faq-impact-of-haze-on-health/
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Hoarseness (fact sheet, updated October 2011). https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/sites/default/files/Documents/health/voice/NIDCD-Hoarseness.pdf
- Doctor Plus. Haze in Singapore: How to Protect Your Health and When to See a Doctor. https://drplus.com.sg/articles/haze-in-singapore-how-to-protect-your-health-and-when-to-see-a-doctor/
- Parkway Shenton. How the Haze Can Affect Your Health. https://www.parkwayshenton.com.sg/health-plus/article/singapore-haze-health