I haven't seen any mention yet of vocal nodes/nodules within this thread. For anyone who's not familiar with them, and what they can mean for a singer, it's easy to find many sad stories on the web. For medical information, with good photos, see http://www.connectingvoices.com/current/9701/technical/9701t3_MD/9701t3_2.htm where it's expalined that the best way of avoiding vocal problems is avoiding smoke and smoky environments as often as possible. As an amateur, I don't have to sing, but my heart goes out to professionals who practice for years and then develop nodules because they cannot afford to say 'no' to singing in smoky venues. (If interested see related post from an affected singer on 'Non-smoking venues in the UK' thread).