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

A vocal cord injury has robbed Steven Tyler, the iconic American singer-songwriter of Aerosmith, of what he perhaps enjoyed most in his career: performing on stage. Tyler, 76, fractured his larynx in 2023 while on tour and has yet to recover from the injury. There’s also “My heart will go on” Celine Dion, whose singing career has been affected by stiff-person syndrome, a neurological condition that causes muscle stiffness and spasms. In India, famous playback singer Alka Yagnik recently suffered sudden sensorineural hearing loss, prompting her to draw people’s attention to the health risks of the music profession.

Musicians around the world suffer from health problems, including noise-induced hearing problems, musculoskeletal disorders and even respiratory disorders, according to research published in the journal Croatian dermatovenerological act Magazine in 2005. Health Shots reached out to some Indian singers to understand the health issues of a music artist.

Shibani Kashyap: I have suffered from laryngitis

“I have often suffered from laryngitis (an inflammation of the larynx) due to which my vocal cords get strained, especially during back-to-back concerts,” says the Sajnaa hitmaker. When she does concerts, she travels a lot and due to lack of sleep, her health suffers. The singer-songwriter also suffers from acute pain in her feet as she performs in heels. “Due to this, I have developed a condition called bunion (a bony bump that forms at the joint where the big toe joins a person’s foot). My advice for good vocal health is to avoid talking too much and not to use headphones too much,” says Kashyap. She believes that drinking warm water with turmeric first thing in the morning and doing yoga can help.

Dhvani Bhanushali: Performance anxiety is real

The 26-year-old Vaaste singer makes sure she doesn’t speak “too loud” when wearing headphones. “I prefer earphones to earbuds as headphones don’t actually sit inside your ear,” she says. But when rehearsing for dance music videos, she sometimes goes a little overboard. “During (her latest song) Thank You God, I was doing lifts. At that time, I hurt my hamstring. It’s been weeks, but I’m yet to recover,” Bhanushali says. She also feels that “performance anxiety is a thing.” Whenever she’s in front of people, she worries a lot for the first few minutes. “It affects me because it’s not like a normal stage. You have to entertain thousands of people. You have to let go of your inhibitions, but sometimes it gets difficult,” she adds. While Dhvani believes that time and experience make her better, she often finds solace in reminding herself of her love for music.

Sudhir Yaduvanshi: Lack of sleep affects the voice

“There are back-to-back concerts for which you have to constantly travel around the world. During that time, it is not possible to sleep properly and meal timings change. As a result, throat inflammation occurs,” says Yaduvanshi, who worked with Grammy winner Ricky Kej on the new song Bam Lahiri – Om Namah Shivay. There are also late-night shoots, due to which sleep is hampered. “I have noticed that lack of sleep “Sleep causes me major problems with my voice, so whenever I have time, I catch up on lost sleep. I also listen to music at a balanced volume and think positively to overcome negative thoughts. I also focus on exercise and good nutrition,” she says.

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

Mickey, who has shared the stage with international stars like Wiz Khalifa and G-Eazy, has not had to face any health issues so far, but admits that a rap career does push you to the limit from time to time. “Breathing control is of utmost importance for rapping, so conserving energy is a must. Using in-ear monitors while performing or headphones in the studio makes your head hurt, but it’s best to take a break from music for a day or two and release some stress,” he says. He believes in a disciplined lifestyle and a fit mindset. “Eat right, be positive and love what you do… your health will back that up. Making sure your mornings are early even if your nights are long, that your lifestyle is fresh and that your spirit is always active and motivated is the best way to prevent any health issues,” 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

Babuji singer Zara Dheere Chalo admits that she sometimes suffers from stage fright. “I take deep breaths, which helps me overcome the anxiety,” says the artist. To avoid a sore throat, she drinks Green Tea “I also drink a lot of water and this has helped a lot in improving my overall health,” says Kakkar.

Aoora: Using headphones can be stressful

K-pop singer Aoora moved to Mumbai in 2023, but started singing professionally at the age of 16. “I always wear headphones, so sometimes I can’t hear the sound. So, I now wear headphones from time to time,” 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 frequently to prevent my vocal cords from drying out,” adds the former Bigg Boss 17 contestant, who likes to create his own rendition of Bollywood hits, including Bappi Lahiri’s Jimmy Jimmy.