|
Liner Notes
| |
Body
& Soul
Voice Care with David M. Alessi, M.D
EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL AND DRUGS ON THE VOICE
MBADC: Alcohol?
DA: In moderation it’s OK. Alcohol is very drying, it tends to help
to increase acid reflux, and the third thing is,
especially while onstage it can inhibit the sense of perception… Most performers who
have performed while intoxicated and then they become sober, are almost embarrassed by the
fact that they used to think they were more creative and performed better while they were
intoxicated onstage. And every single one of them--and these are great
performers—said that they do much, much better when they do not have anything like
alcohol inhibiting them onstage.
MBADC: Ibuprofen? [Examples: Advil, Motrin]
DA: Ibuprofen can lead to bleeding…If you’re a hard rock and
roller, and eventually using either aspirin or Motrin or Ibuprofen, it can lead to
thinning of the blood, and you can actually bleed very easily. So if you’re pushing
through that, you’re headed for trouble. Occasionally it’s OK, but the classic
example is someone who’s had a cold, a little hoarse, and they take some Advil, then
they go out and push really hard, ultimately they get a hemorrhage on their vocal cord,
and then they’re shut down for two months, maybe even permanently changing their
voice.
MBADC: What is "occasionally" to a doctor?
DA: About once a month.
MBADC: What about cocaine?
DA: Cocaine, especially if you’re freebasing, can actually burn the
cords. I remember getting called down to a set where they were doing a rock video and all
four members of the band all had horrible cocaine laryngitis,
and eventually they just had to shut the whole thing down. They had about 2000 people down
there filming the thing, and they just shut the whole thing down. Snorting coke once in a
while is not going to hurt the vocal cords, but once you’re addicted to it actually
has a lot of effects on the nasal membranes, something called encrusting, sinus problems,
colds, and can actually have a direct effect on the vocal cords. And so, one time partying
is unlikely to be hurtful to the vocal cords. But any type of long-term use is going to be
bad.
MBADC: What about ecstasy?
DA: It’s not going to be directly injurious to the vocal cords.
It’s just that people will not be paying attention to their vocal cords while
they’re on ecstasy or any other drugs, and can actually have problems arise from
that.
Speed--what does that do?
DA: Nothing directly injurious about the vocal cords. Obviously when
you’re on speed you’re not going to be able to manage your vocal cord use very
well. There’s nothing better than natural adrenaline that you get by going onstage.
You don’t need to add speed while you’re performing onstage to perform better.
You’re just going to make a fool of yourself and no one’s going to want you
after that.
Effects of Heroin on the Voice & Heart, and a Graphic
Description of Open Heart Surgery Caused by Heroin
Body & Soul |
| |
Suicide Hotlines
|
