As we age, there are moments when we suddenly feel our voice has lost its strength. In the past, just answering the phone would elicit comments like, "Did you boil a pot of energy? Your voice is strong and full of life," but at some point, our voices start to sound softer and tire more easily.

This is not just a feeling; it is said to be due to the actual aging of the vocal cords. Our voice is produced by the vibration of two muscles called the vocal cords, which, like other muscles in the body, lose elasticity and thickness as we age.

Especially after the age of 50, the mucosa of the vocal cords becomes thinner, and the muscles begin to atrophy, resulting in a reduced range of vibration. As a result, the voice sounds weaker and more tremulous than before. Men's pitch tends to rise, while women's tends to lower, which is related to hormonal changes.

When testosterone, the male hormone, decreases, the vocal cord muscles weaken, producing a thinner sound, while women experience a thickening of the vocal cords after menopause, resulting in a lower pitch. This is why there is a saying that the voices of older men and women become increasingly similar.

Another important factor is breathing. No matter how healthy the vocal cords are, if lung capacity decreases, the density and resonance of the voice diminish. In the past, we naturally produced sound from our diaphragm, but as we age, we tend to breathe shallowly from the upper chest. This puts more strain on the throat and increases the burden on the vocal cords. The reason our throat feels sore or fatigued after talking for a long time is precisely this.

Therefore, experts recommend regular 'voice exercises' to prevent vocal cord aging. Simply humming or prolonging the sound 'ah' can be beneficial. Such sounds vibrate the vocal cords without strain, helping to maintain the muscles. Staying hydrated is also crucial. The vocal cords are covered with a thin mucosa, which can easily be damaged if dry.

It is advisable to avoid dehydrating beverages like coffee or alcohol, and using a humidifier in dry areas can also help. In fact, the voice is a reflection of a person's energy and impression. When we are young, just speaking can convey vitality, but as we age and our voice loses strength, we can appear more fatigued overall.

With consistent care, anyone can maintain a youthful voice. The reason famous vocalists can perform on stage in their 70s is not that their vocal cords are special, but because they have trained consistently. If we use our voices daily, even a little, and develop the habit of singing lightly or reading aloud, the elasticity of the vocal cords can be preserved.

Ultimately, since the vocal cords are muscles, they will age quickly if not used. While aging is inevitable, the aging of the voice can be sufficiently delayed.

So these days, I spend at least 10 minutes a day 'reading aloud.' At first, it felt awkward, but I began to feel my voice coming back to life. It is time to develop habits to protect and care for the vocal cords as we age.