Straining the voice: Shouting, trying to talk over noise, and excessive talking can also cause irritation of the vocal folds, especially when dealing with a cold, sinus infection, or an upper respiratory tract infection.
Pollutants in the air pass through the vocal tract and past the vocal folds. The tiny particles rub against the vocal folds, irritating them. This is how cigarette smoke can cause problems for the singer. Singers should avoid smoky atmospheres. Obviously, singers should never smoke. If you must smoke, don't bother being a singer.
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