Aerosmith retires after Steven Tyler’s vocal cord injury: Singers reveal health risks of the music profession

A vocal cord injury has taken away what Steven Tyler, the iconic American singer-songwriter of Aersomith fame, perhaps enjoyed the most in his career: stage performances. Tyler, 76, fractured his larynx in 2023 during a tour, and he hasn’t yet recovered from the injury. There’s also “My heart will go on” Celine Dion, whose singing career has been affected by a Stiff Person Syndrome, a neurological condition that causes stiffness and muscle spasms. In India, famous playback singer Alka Yagnik most recently suffered a sudden sensorineural hearing loss, which led her to direct people’s attention to the health risks of the music profession.

Musicians across the world suffer from health problems, including noise induced hearing impairment, musculoskeletal disorders, and even respiratory disorders, according to a research published in the Acta dermatovenerologica Croatica journal in 2005. Health Shots reached out to some Indian singers to understand the health problems of a music artiste.

Shibani Kashyap: I’ve suffered laryngitis

“I have often suffered from laryngitis (an inflammation of the voice box) due to my vocal cords getting strained, especially during back-to-back shows,” says the Sajnaa hitmaker. When she does shows, there is extensive travelling and due to a lack of sleep, her health takes a hit. The singer and composer also experiences acute foot pain, as she performs in heels. “Due to this, I have developed a condition called the bunion (a bony bump that gets formed on the joint where the big toe meets a person’s foot). My advise for good vocal health is to avoid speaking too much and not using headphones much,” says Kashyap. She thinks drinking warm water with turmeric first thing on the morning, and doing yoga can help.

Dhvani Bhanushali: Performance anxiety is real

The Vaaste singer, who is 26 years old, makes sure not to go “too loud” while using headphones. “I prefer headphones over earphones, as the headphones are not really placed inside the ear,” she says. But while rehearsing for dance-led music videos, sometimes, she goes a little overboard. “During (her latest song) Thank You God, I was doing lifts. At the time, I pulled my hamstrings. It has been weeks, but I am yet to recover,” says Bhanushali. She also feels that “performance anxiety is a thing”. Whenever she is in front of people, she gets really worried for the first few minutes. “It gets to me because it’s not like a normal scenario. You have to entertain thousands of people. You have to forget your inhibitions, but sometimes it gets hard,” she adds. While Dhvani believes time and experience make it better, she often finds comfort in reminding herself of her love for music.

Sudhir Yaduvanshi: Lack of sleep affects vocals

“There are back-to-back shows for which you have to constantly travel across the world. During that time, proper sleep is not possible, and food timings change. As a result, throat swelling happens,” says Yaduvanshi, who worked with Grammy winner Ricky Kej on the new song Bam Lahiri – Om Namah Shivay. There are also late-night recordings, so sleep gets hampered. “I have noticed that lack of sleep causes significant issues with my vocals. So, whenever I get the time, I catch up on sleep. I also listen to music at a balanced volume and think positively to overcome negative thoughts. I also focus on exercise and good food,” he says.

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Mr. Mickey: I try to conserve my energy for rap

Mr. Mickey, who has shared the stage with international stars like Wiz Khalifa and G-Eazy, has not faced any health hazards as yet, but admits that a rap career does push your vocal limit from time to time. “Breath control is utmost important for rap, so conserving my energy is a must. Using ear monitors while performing or headphones in the studio does make the head heavy, but it is best to take a break for a day or two from music and release some stress,” he says. He believes in a disciplined lifestyle and a fit mindset. “Eat good, stay positive, and love what you do… your health will back it up. Making sure your mornings are early even if your nights are long, your lifestyle is fresh, and your spirit is always active and motivated, is the best way to prevent any health hazards,” says the rapper, whose most recent project is an all-English rap album titled ‘Cheddar Chase: The Mousetrapp’d!’.

Sonu Kakkar: Anxiety and sore throat are common

The Babuji Zara Dheere Chalo singer admits to having performance anxiety sometimes. “I take deep breaths that help me overcome the anxiety,” says the artiste. To avoid a sore throat, she drinks green tea every day. “I also drink plenty of water, and this has greatly helped in improving my overall health,” says Kakkar.

Aoora: Using headphones can be stressful

K-pop singer Aoora moved to Mumbai in 2023, but he started professional singing at the age of 16. “I always use headphones, so sometimes I can’t hear the sound. Because of this, I occasionally use headphones now,” says the Love Back singer. “I also try to relax my vocal cords when I speak without straining them, and I always try to drink water little by little often to keep my vocal cords from drying out,” adds the former Bigg Boss 17 contestant, who enjoys coming up with his own rendition of Bollywood hits, including Bappi Lahiri’s Jimmy Jimmy.