For young people's holiday gatherings, "KTV singing" has become an indispensable part. During the New Year period, reporters saw a continuous stream of people at some KTVs, making it difficult to find a room without an advance reservation. While using singing as a form of relaxation and entertainment is a good thing, singing karaoke must be done in moderation; otherwise, it can damage health, turning a good thing into a bad one.
Risk One: Continuous singing may cause vocal cord inflammation
It is reported that under normal circumstances, a person's vocal cords vibrate about 100 to 250 times per second, but this increases to 200 to 1000 times when singing. When singing loudly, the vocal cords vibrate continuously at a much higher frequency than normal speech. Sustained high notes or vocal cord overexertion can burden the vocal cords. Continuous singing can also cause the mucous membranes of the vocal cords to become congested and swollen, leading to ruptured blood vessels, bleeding, and acute vocal cord inflammation. This can result in a hoarse voice, sore throat, and even symptoms such as throat congestion, difficulty breathing, and decreased lung function. In severe cases, vocal cord nodules and polyps may develop.
Risk Two: Shouting high notes can easily damage the vocal cords
"Belting" high notes has become increasingly popular. To show off their "skills," many people use their voice improperly or even "abuse" it. When encountering songs that exceed their vocal range or are very difficult to sing, especially high notes, they still shout loudly. This can easily damage the vocal cords and the muscles that control them, causing hoarseness. Singing relies not only on vocal cord vibration but also on the support of the entire body, resonance from parts of the head and chest, and coordination with breathing. Simply "shouting" or "yelling" is not enough.
Risk Three: Drinking cold drinks while singing can easily lead to a hoarse voice
Many people who go to karaoke bars like to drink cold beverages, but the refreshing cold drinks can suddenly cause one to lose their voice. In the dry and cold winter, it is even easier to develop throat diseases if one is not careful. If you have a cold at the time, the likelihood of a hoarse voice is even greater. Additionally, smoking while singing can dry out the vocal cords, causing congestion, swelling, and thickening similar to polyps.
Risk Four: Long durations can damage hearing
Prolonged karaoke singing is not only harmful to the throat, but the high-decibel noise can also cause hearing damage. Research indicates that the average person can suffer hearing loss after being in an environment of 90 decibels for eight hours, or in an environment of 120 decibels for half an hour. The decibel level in karaoke singing environments often exceeds 100, and with the echo in the room, the damage to the ears is even greater. A survey also showed that after spending two hours in a karaoke environment and then taking a hearing test, some people's hearing decreased by 8 decibels.
Expert Advice: Warm up before singing and pay attention to posture
For holiday "KTV singing," Director Huang, a vocal expert from the Otolaryngology Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital, offers five suggestions: First, warm up before singing. Start with some easy-to-sing songs, stop after two, and let the vocal cords rest. Second, take appropriate breaks while singing to avoid staying in the karaoke room for too long. Two hours is ideal, and keep the indoor air fresh. Third, sing correctly. First, do not sing immediately after a meal. Second, women should avoid singing strenuously during their menstrual period. Finally, maintain a natural posture when singing, avoiding looking down or tilting the head back. Fourth, keep your throat moist at the right time. Fifth, seek medical attention when necessary. If you experience hoarseness, rest your voice immediately or seek treatment.