In recent years, we have been inundated with what I have lovingly called "The Annie Syndrome." Starting in the 80's when Sarah Jessica Parker was playing Annie on Broadway, every young girl grew up wanting to play Annie. And so, every young girl grew up thinking everything needs to be belted like "Tomorrow."
Prior to this, belting was a rare feat only done on certain specific types of songs, by singers who were physically able to do it properly and well - trained to do so without hurting themselves, or possibly causing permanent vocal cord damage.
As evidenced by recent vocal surgeries and concert cancellations by mega-stars like Adele, Celine Dion and others, a big powerful voice may wow your audience, but that does NOT mean it is the best thing for the long-term health of your voice.
Proper belting takes tremendous breath control and is sustained ONLY by using the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. A proper belt should never be forced, pushed, strained, squeezed, or have a nasal
tone. Anything that you can feel in your throat or that feels unpleasant is likely to be causing damage that may not ever be repaired. 
The vocal cords, or vocal folds, are a pair of thin, muscular strips inside the larynx, or voice box, in your throat. Shaped like a wish bone, they contain the densest nerve tissue in the body. While silent, the cords remain apart for easier breathing. When we use our voices, air is pushed up from the lungs, and the edges of the cords join in a quick, chopping motion. The air creates sound by making the cords vibrate. The greater the speed of the vibration, the higher the pitch. A soprano hitting rich high notes has her cords slapping against each other 1,000 times per second!
The fine, spongy surface of the cords, can eventually wear down and develop tiny contusions. After overuse for years, nodules, polyps or cysts from on the vocal folds, distorting your sound. The first sign of trouble is usually the wobble. Ragged cords lose their natural vibrato, so they no longer resonate correctly, causing the pitch to fluctuate. In a worst case scenario, there is a point where there is a "hole" where the cords completely fail to produce the proper tone. Notes become flat, or worse, come through as a barely audible gasp.
The truth is that the old idea that belting is automatically injurious to the vocal cords is an old wives tale, and belting is certainly quite effective in certain specifically intensely emotional moments in a song. A more classical style of singing, one that is also easier on the vocal cords is appropriate in far more instances. And improper belting, or all-too-frequent belting can still cause serious, and sometimes permanent damage.
Your best course of action is to work with a properly trained voice teacher to determine exactly where your own natural "break" is between your chest and head voice, and to work carefully on gentle warm-ups to challenge yourself and widen your range. A teacher can help ensure that you never attempt a note that is too high or too low, or belt a note that will end up in your throat causing damage that can end your singing career forever.
Ultimately, belting is a fun and effective way to express intensity in a moment in a song. And with proper training, you can belt safely AND be stronger when using your head voice. That way you can sound great and feel great and sing well for the rest of your life!
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