|
Humming
may help sinuses stay healthy
Even if you don't have an ear for music, humming may help keep
your sinuses healthy. A new study shows humming can improve ventilation
in the sinuses, which might reduce your risk of developing sinusitis.
Sinusitis is a common but painful condition that affects more than
14% of the U.S. population. It occurs when the hollow, mucus-lined
spaces around the nose (known as the paranasal sinuses) become inflamed
- causing symptoms such as headaches, pain and nasal congestion.
Inflamation of the sinuses is usually triggered by an upper respiratory
infection, and some people are much more likely than others to suffer
these infections. For example, people with allergies, asthma, or
those with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to chronic
sinusitis.
Researchers say proper ventilation of the sinuses is vital to keeping
them healthy and preventing infection. But current tools used to
measure sinus function are invasive and somewhat cumbersome to perform.
That prompted study author Jon Lundberg, MD, PhD, of the Karolinska
Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, and colleagues to look at humming
as a possible method to measure as well as increase airflow and
ventilation in the nasal passages.
They thought the airflow created by humming would speed up the
exchange of air between the sinuses and the nasal cavity. And the
researchers measured the increased nasal output by monitoring the
amount of nitric oxide (NO) in the exhaled air. Most of the NO in
exhaled air comes from the nasal airways, and healthy sinuses have
high concentrates of NO.
The study found that humming increased NO levels by 15 times compared
with quiet breathing - creating a dramatic increase in the amount
of the gas exchnaged between the sinuses and nasal cavity.
Researchers say blockages or limited airflow between the two cavities
is a key factor in the development of sinusitis.
Reference
This article is from the WEBMED: Reviewed by Gary
Vogin, MD
World
Voice Day: what is it?
The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and
Neck Surgery - is observing the first "World Voice Day",
an international celebration of the human voice. On April 16, 2003,
the public is being asked to recognise that the human voice, a fragile
communication instrument, can be easily and irretrievably damaged
through harmful speaking techniques and alcohol and tobacco abuse.
The consequence can be strained vocal cords, chronic hoarseness,
or in some cases, deadly head and neck cancers.
Voice disorders can afflict not only the famous
but also the neighbour. Many otolaryngologists have assisted well-known
entertainers in maintaining their voice, all to the enjoyment of
the American public. These medical specialists have also aided our
nation's teachers,clergy, salespeople, and courtroom attorneys,
all professionals requiring the ability to speak clearly in the
performance of their job.
World Voice recognition originally started in Brazil,
where ear, nose and throat specialists established National Voice
Week in April 1999, in response to a report by the World Health
Organisation of the high larynx cancer rate in that anation. Now
other nations and institutions have signed on to mark World Voice
Day.
Reference
www://newswise.com/articles/2002/3/VOICEDAY.AAO.html
Incidence
and prevalence of voice disorders in the United States:
- It is estimated that 3% to 9% of the total population of the
United States has a voice disorder (1)
- Disorders of vocal abuse and misuse are the most prevalent and
preventable types of voice disorders (2)
- There is evidence of an increased incidence of vocal nodules
in such occupations as homemakers, teachers, singers, lawyers,
salespeople, preachers and telemarketers (3)
- The frequency of repeated vocal nodule occurrence ranges from
15% to 35% (4)
References
- Ramig, L.O., & Verdolini, K. (1998, February).
Treatment efficacy: Voice Disorders. Journal of Speech, Language
and Hearing Research, 41, S101-S116.
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders. (1999, May). Disorders of vocal abuse and misuse (NIH
Pub. No. 99-4375) Bethesda, MD: Author
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Stroke. (2000, November). Amyotrophic Lateral Schlerosis fact
sheet.
- Pannbacker, M. (1999, August). Treatment of vocal
nodules: Options and outcomes. American Journal of Speech-Language
Pathology, 8, 201-208.
Original article compiled by Andrea Castrogiovanni,
Research Resources and Advocacy, ASHA 10801 Rockville Pike, Rockville
MD 20852, 301-897-5700
Prevalence
of voice disorders among future teachers:
An epidemiological study was conducted in order to find out the
prevalence of voice disorders among students studying to be teachers.
Vocal symptoms were inquired of 226 students. Their voices were
assessed perceptually by a speech therapist and those who had abnormal
voice quality or reported several vocal symptoms were referred to
a clinical examination by a laryngologist. The results showed that
20% of this population reported two or more vocal symptoms during
the previous year and that 19% had an organic voice disorder. This
reinforces the need for clinical evaluation of students with vocal
symptoms and more vocal training in the teacher education programs.
Reference
Simberg S, Sala E, Laine A, Ronnemaa A-M. Prevalence
of voice disorders among future teachers. J Voice 2000; 14: 231-5
Are
telemarketers more susceptible to voice disorders?
This study set out to investigate whether there is an increased
prevalence of voice problems among telemarketers compared with the
general population and if these voice problems affect productivity
and are associated with the presence of known risk factors for voice
problems.
Results Telemarketers were twice as likely to report 1
or more symptoms of vocal attrition compared with controls after
adjusting for age, sex and smoking status (P<.001).
Of those surveyed, 31% reported that their work was affected
by an average of 5.0 symptoms. These respondents tended to be women
(P<.001) and were more likely to smoke (P = .02);
take drying medications (P<.001); have sinus problems
(P = .04), and frequent colds (P<.001), and dry
mouth (P<.001); and be sedentary (P<.001).
Conclusions Telemarketers have a higher prevalence of voice
problems than the control group. These problems affect productivity
and are associated with modifiable risk factors. Evaluation of occupational
voice disorders must encompass all of the determinats of health
status, and treatment must focus on modifiable risk factors, not
just the reduction of occupational vocal load.
Reference
Katherine Jones, MS; Jason Sigmon, MD; Lynette Hock,
MS; Eric Nelson, BS; Marsha Sullivan, MA, CCC-SLP; Frederic Ogren,
MD. Prevalence and risk factors for voice problems among telemarketers.
Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2002; 128:571-577
Prevalence
of voice disorders among future teachers
|
