When was the last time you "wha-hooed" at a terrific rock concert? How about cheered your favorites in a great baseball game? Did your kid just win a blue ribbon and you are an extremely supportive (and vocal) parent? How loudly did you scream at the last scary horror flick?
You may be an enthusiastic soul--that's a GOOD thing. When you wake up the next morning and you sound like Rachel Ray or Harvey Fierstein--that's NOT SO HOT. Having a throaty, raspy, breathy vocal quality is not stylish or sexy. It means that your vocal cords are either very dry, inflamed or even damaged due to hemmorhage. If you do enough screeching you could sustain damage that translates into nodules (also called "nodes"), polyps and/or bleeding from the trauma of even A SINGLE YELL. Consistent vocal abuse may necessitate surgery. If you are hoarse, see a speech pathologist who knows about voice. Lots of us don't. Here's my website for referrals if you are not in my neck of the woods: http://www.speechpathologyworks.com. Come in for a visit if you're local, but whatever you do, if it persists, DON'T DO NOTHING. The voice you save may be your own.
So, think twice when you yell loudly. Practice your whistle, or better yet, buy one. Clap like the god of thunder. Jump up and down. Wave a banner. Just don't engage in vocal abuse. It hurts. And if you are so happy (angry/scared/freaked out/thrilled) that you can't help but let out a war whoop, baby your voice for a while. Drink a lot of water. Stand in a steamy shower for 5 minutes. PROTECT YOUR VOICE. There, I said it. Sorry about the shouting....
