HAZARDS OF THE JOB

HOW your job can affect your health. This week: Teachers damage their vocal cords TEACHERS are prone to issues with their voices because they have to talk loudly in classrooms, said Declan Costello, a consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon specialising in voice disorders at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

The combination of talking loudly and often can cause a husky voice or an ache or burning sensation in the throat.

These may also be a sign of nodules — calluses on the vocal cords — which occur when the voice is overused.

If these persist, surgery is needed to remove them.

The secret to protecting your voice is to avoid letting the muscles get too tight by using a different pitch or relaxing the neck, according to Mr Costello.

He also advises good ‘vocal hygiene’, such as drinking water and avoiding caffeine, because it dries the mouth and throat.