<p>Also, keep an eye on the temperature in the dorm or bedroom. A cool room is much healthier. Heat dries out the mucus membranes that are a defense to the cold virus.</p>
<p>MM, I am glad Throat Coat has the Mezzo’sMama stamp of approval, as we’ve bought out all of it at our local co-op and Whole Foods! We actually like the flavor of both color boxes. For some reason our whole family was sick with upper respiratory problems this year during winter break so we are trying to shore up, going into audition season (D3 has summer program auditions starting Wednesday.)</p>
<p>Regarding cough drops: I understand menthol is out but having spent some time standing in the aisle at CVS staring at the choices, I was unsure which are best. What do you think about eucalyptus? Will it make D4 sound like a Koala bear? What cough drop “active” ingredients are okay?</p>
<p>And so it begins, singing and the long road to chronic hypochondria : [</a> Opera Singers Say - YouTube](<a href="- YouTube">- YouTube)!</p>
<p>Nailed it!</p>
<p>Fat soluble vitamins like D, E and A can be poisonous because they don’t flush out, whereas the water soluble ones (C, B vitamins) simply flush out. In terms of vitamin A, it is safer to take beta carotein which your body converts to A, it will only convert as much as your body can use, and is a lot safer then taking A straight. I know a large part of the medical establishment loves to claim that vitamins can be gotten from food, etc, but studies are continuing to show that supplements and such do have a positive effect …would love a doctor to explain to me why in the zoos they give great apes, the closest relatives to human beings, 15 g’s of vitamin C a day with their diet, but claim that 500 mg is all humans need…<em>off my soapbox</em>.</p>
<p>From what I have read from the CDC, face masks don’t do much to prevent transmission of the flu virus, it is way smaller then the pores on the mask, and a lot of transmission is skin to skin. Face masks do have one benefit, if someone has the flu, it can prevent them from spraying fluid when they sneeze or cough, so it works to protect other people from them. </p>
<p>A big one? Allow enough time for sleep! I realize with the idiotic loads schools put on kids these days plus practicing like mad for audition season, this can be hard, but nothing wipes out the immune system like lack of sleep, it is one of the biggest immune suppressors out there. Especially with kids in late adolescence, that lack of sleep is a problem. </p>
<p>I also highly recommend taking a daily dose of Echinacea (I think the liquid works better), couple of drops under the tongue twice a day really helps IME. You can also drink echinacea tea, but I think the liquid works better (make sure it is from the roots, not the stem or flowers).</p>
<p>For throat drops try Slippery Elm. D likes the tangerine and cherry flavors. Works great to moisten your throat.</p>
<p>@glassharmonica- menthol is the trouble-maker, eucalyptus seems to be OK, but with their potent smell, it might be wise to avoid them right before auditions in a small room…</p>
<p>An international super-star tenor makes his wife stay in totally separate hotel room if she shows even the slightest sniffle! Nothing is more germ phobic than a singer!</p>
<p>musica, thanks for sending the video. I feel so normal now.</p>
<p>Any kind of hard candy works to keep throat coated and soothed. The old fashioned lemon drops are great (Jelly Belly brand has no chemical taste to them). Eucalyptus is also drying to surface of mucous membranes. Plain old cherry, the old Luden’s brand, works fine. Keep the air as humidified, breathe through nose as much as possible. A neck gator works well to put up over the nose and mouth to protect in public places (subways, etc.) If there is no direct infection of the vocal tract, keeping it soothed and minimizing coughing is the goal. Sleep on a slant, not flat, keep a lozenge in mouth. Hydrate air and body. Good luck to all.</p>