Are you prone to headaches and migraines? If so, you may be worried about how to cope, if one strikes during your recording session.
Headaches when singing can be really debilitating. But we have tips for recording when your head hurts, so you’ll still sound your best. Medications, water, natural remedies, supplements, and vocal steamers are just some of the ways you can ease the pain.
In this article, we’ll explain the different types of headaches and the best ways to relieve them. We’ll also look at root causes, so you can prevent headaches from occurring in future sessions.
Headaches when singing
A headache can strike while you’re in the middle of a recording and throw you off your game. If you’re in the middle of a take and can’t stop for a break, you’ll need to minimise the pain. At least until you get to the end of the track or session.
Headaches are more common than migraines. If you have a headache, you’ll usually feel pain and pressure on both sides of your head. They can cause aching in your forehead, temples, and neck and the pain can vary from mild to severe.
Migraines are much more intense and painful than a headache. They typically cause pain in one side of the head and often come with other symptoms including seeing spots in your vision, pain behind one eye, nausea and vomiting.
Supplements won’t help you when you’re in pain. But by making sure you have the vitamins and minerals you need you can help prevent one from arriving in the first place. So ensure you have sufficient quantities of the following in your system:
Vitamin B-2
Vitamin D
Butterbur
Melatonin
Magnesium
Feverfew
Coenzyme Q10
Why do I get a headache when I sing?
Identifying what’s causing your headache will quickly get you on the path to treating it. Stress, anxiety, and vocal strain can cause you to contract your facial muscles when you sing.
Pressure or tension headaches are some of the most common types of head pain singers suffer from. These can come from singing very loudly, singing high notes, or forcing the voice. The noise from instruments such as drums can set off a headache too.
Blocked sinuses can also cause a kind of pressure headache. We’ll reveal how to easily relieve this further on in the article.
Singers are prone to migraines. This is because bright lights, loud noises, and stressful environments all cause migraines. And artists are exposed to these every time they get on stage. If you suffer from persistent migraines, try getting to the root of the problem. Keep a headache diary to track what triggers an episode.
Dehydration can be a major cause of headaches. When singing you need even more water. So the first thing you should do if you feel one coming on is to take a drink. And we don’t mean a coffee. Caffeine is one of the biggest ways to exacerbate a headache. So give it a miss.
#1 Keep a bottle of water in the studio and drink copious amounts at regular intervals.
This will stop your vocal cords from drying out too, which is extra important if you need to take some medication. Some vocalists report a better outcome when drinking electrolyte water.
The safest headache medication for vocalists
Your first impulse might be to reach for medication to numb a headache. This may not be the best option for a singer as over-the-counter drugs can potentially hinder your singing ability.
#2 As a quick fix when recording, you can take ibuprofen, paracetamol or aspirin.
These are the go-to medication for treating pressure headaches. But using over the counter medication can lead to rebound headaches and drying of the voice.
The side effects of prescription drugs should be small and may not affect everyone. However, in some cases, certain medications can cause your voice to sound raspy, hoarse, or increase nasal drip.
Regularly taking painkillers for headaches can start to have a really negative effect on your voice (and health) because they thin the blood in the body. This reduces blood flow in your vocal folds and – paired with strain and dehydration from doing regular gigs – can potentially lead to vocal haemorrhaging.
So which drugs affect your voice?
NSAID’s (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are safe to take in moderation to treat headaches. But they can start to thin the blood in your vocal cords if you take them too much. These include drugs like:
Aspirin
Ibuprofen
Naxrin
Other drugs to avoid taking for your headache include:
Nasal Sprays
Flonase
If you’re looking for an alternative to aspirin, the answer might be in your kitchen cupboard. Ginger, garlic, cayenne pepper and turmeric all share the same anti-inflammatory properties as painkillers.
These natural products all contain antioxidants and will work at reducing the inflammation and pain caused by headaches. Ginger and Turmeric can both enjoyed in tea or can be taken in capsule form.
Tips for recording when your head hurts
Headaches often appear at the worst possible time. But singers don’t have to suffer in silence when feeling one coming on. There are plenty of alternative methods to painkillers to help numb head pain. These will help you to make the most of your recording session.
If you’re struck by a migraine just as you’re about to go on stage, these can provide instant relief.
#3 Aromatherapy massage
The smell of lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus are said to soothe head pain. Wear a diffuser bracelet with a couple of drops of these on it during your recording session. Relieve tension in your neck and temples by giving yourself a massage.
#4 Use a vocal steamer to relieve sinus congestion
A vocal steamer (sometimes called a steam inhaler) is a device that releases a light mist of steam that’s easy to inhale. It’s a great remedy for headaches.
Vocal steamers have multiple health benefits for singers. Breathing in the steam and tiny droplets of water from a vocal steamer hydrates the vocal cords and warms and soothes them.
Straining your vocal cords when you sing high notes can cause tension headaches. Taking a break with a vocal steamer can rejuvenate your vocal folds for when you next go to sing.
The warm steam also works as a decongestant and clears and unblocks your head, relieving the build-up of tension that can result in a migraine.
Pressure headaches from singing
If your headaches are recurring, you might want to try an elimination diet too. Certain foods, like processed meat, cheese, and red wine, can bring on migraines. Avoiding specific foods for a while might reveal what’s making you more susceptible to headaches. Chocolate is one of the biggest culprits for inducing headaches, and it has a surprising impact on your vocal health too.
What you eat and drink as a singer can play a crucial role in your vocal health. Take note of what’s good for your voice and what foods you should limit before making any big changes to your diet.
How to get rid of tension when singing
#5 Move out of the glare of bright lights if you can.
These may well be causing your headache. Try squeezing your eyes shut for 10 seconds and then reopening them and releasing the tension you were holding. This will help relax any taught muscles.
#6 Apply an ice pack
For sharp and throbbing headaches, put an ice pack on your forehead. Make sure there’s a paper towel or cloth around the ice to protect your skin from ice burn.
#7 Use a heat compress
If your headache feels more like tension and a tight pain, wear a heat compress around the back of your neck or shoulders.
Relieving a tension headache from singing
If you hold too much tension in your forehead or face, this can cause tension headaches or stress headaches.
#8 Give your face a workout and practice facial exercises to release forehead tension when you sing.
You can try these at home, or in the green room.
Happy face – smiling engages a lot of your facial muscles. Smile as wide as you possibly can and hold for 5 seconds. Then let your face relax, before repeating for at least ten reps per session.
Face Yoga – rub your hands together to warm your palms. Then massage around your eyes with your palms in circular movements to increase blood circulation and relieve tension.
Nose Scrunch – for 10 seconds, really tense the muscles in your nose. Scrunch and wrinkle your nose and try to widen your nostrils. Then release all tension and repeat again three times.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation – sit somewhere quiet and comfortable and close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths and relax, and then tense your face as much as you can by pulling scowls and frowns. Hold for ten seconds, then release and focus on letting your muscles loosen while breathing deeply.
It may be a cliché, but for musicians and vocalists, the show must go on. Recording studio hire is expensive, so you’ll need to make the most of your time. This means looking after yourself, adequately preparing for your recording session (in body and mind) and making sure you’re on form health-wise.
Related Questions
What type of music helps headaches?
Certain types of music are more likely to induce headaches. Heavy metal, rock, and screamo are all typically louder genres and involve heavy instruments and backing music. Stick to classical sounds, whisper pop and gentle ballads.
What does an anxiety headache feel like?
This may feel very much like a normal headache. Anxiety-related pain is common among artists as the stress of performing can bring on performance nerves. If you’re easily affected by this, try working on relaxation techniques before a live gig or recording.
Can singing help a headache?
It can do. However, performing songs with a lot of high notes can also cause more headaches. When you sing in your head voice, you put more pressure on your vocal cords. This can sometimes lead to vocal strain and the tension you’re putting on your muscles causes headaches.