Alex Fisher Singing Teaching

For professional singers, hay fever isn’t just an annoying seasonal inconvenience—it can be a serious threat to vocal health and performance. If you’ve ever stepped on stage feeling congested, hoarse, or battling an itchy throat, you’ll know exactly how frustrating it can be. Hay fever, or allergic rhinitis, triggers inflammation in the nasal passages and throat, making it harder to breathe, project, and control your voice.

How Hay Fever Affects the Voice

One of the biggest issues for singers with hay fever is inflammation. When pollen levels spike, the body reacts by swelling up the nasal passages and even the vocal cords. This can make your voice feel heavy, hoarse, and sluggish. A study found that many choir singers struggle with vocal fatigue, a reduced range, and loss of vocal clarity during allergy season (Thomas & Koo, 2021). For professionals who rely on their voices daily, this can be a nightmare.

Another major problem is postnasal drip—the constant trickle of mucus from the sinuses down the throat. This not only feels gross but also causes irritation, leading to frequent throat clearing or coughing. And if you’ve ever had to sing while fighting back a cough, you know how much that can mess with your technique. On top of that, nasal congestion alters resonance, making your voice sound more nasal and less rich (Center for Vocal Health, 2023).

Performance Struggles and Medication Side Effects

Hay fever doesn’t just affect your vocal cords—it can mess with your confidence on stage. Unpredictable voice cracks, sudden coughing fits, or struggling to hit high notes can make even the most experienced singers feel off their game.

To make matters worse, many over-the-counter allergy medications can dry out the vocal tract, which is the last thing any singer needs (Glengrove Studio, 2021). Dryness makes phonation harder, limiting vocal flexibility and making it feel like you’re singing on sandpaper instead of smooth, well-lubricated vocal folds.

Managing Hay Fever as a Singer

So, what can you do if you’re a singer with hay fever? First, reduce exposure to allergens—check pollen forecasts, keep windows closed, and use an air purifier indoors (GL Voice, 2022). Nasal irrigation (like using a saline spray or neti pot) can also help clear out allergens before they cause too much inflammation.

If you need medication, opt for non-drying antihistamines or nasal steroid sprays—these can control symptoms without impacting your vocal hydration (Glengrove Studio, 2021). And speaking of hydration, drinking plenty of water is crucial. Staying well-hydrated helps keep your vocal cords flexible and prevents mucus from becoming too thick.

On performance days, consider steaming your voice before a show, avoiding dairy (which can thicken mucus), and doing gentle vocal warm-ups to ease inflammation (Vocal Mist, 2023). Stress can also make hay fever symptoms worse, so incorporating relaxation techniques like deep breathing or gentle neck stretches can make a big difference (Hutchings, 2023).

Final Thoughts

Hay fever might not be something you can control entirely, but by managing symptoms carefully, you can protect your voice and keep delivering strong performances. It’s all about finding the right balance—minimizing allergens, staying hydrated, and making smart choices with medication. With a little extra care, you can still hit those high notes and keep your voice in top shape, even when allergy season is in full swing.