Dear Dr. Garner,

Last week after taking a short plane trip, I noticed that my nose became extremely dry.

A day after I got off the plane, my nose started to whistle. I have tried to stop it with no success. It is beginning to drive me crazy and irritate people around me. Pretty soon I will be starting to “whistle Dixie!”

What can I do? Also, is this related to tinnitus?

Whistling in Williamsburg

Dear Whistling:

I was just talking about this topic with my colleague and friend Dr. Antonio Mascatello.

A situation where the nose may whistle, usually intermittently, is a deviated septum. The septum is the wall that separates the two nostrils. A deviated septum is a common condition. The septum, rather than being straight, is slightly crooked and narrower on one side than the other. When there is slight swelling of the lining of the nose, the opening of the nose is restricted to just the right size and shape and may cause whistling sounds.

Another reason people might experience a whistle through their nose includes a perforation, or a hole in the septum. Normally, this wall is straight and without any openings. When a hole is present in the septum and is in just the right place and size, whenever air is breathed in and out of the nose, it will whistle. The way to correct the problem is by closing the hole or making the hole bigger which stops the air flow that makes the noise.

Diagnosing and treating the underlying condition is the best way to stop the whistling. Your doctor will determine if there is a deviated septum or a hole. The hole in the septum, which is quite rare, may be due to exposure to certain chemicals, cocaine abuse, surgery or previous trauma.

A salt-water spray or gel can help alleviate some of the symptoms. You can buy this over-the-counter. The spray or gel alleviates the irritated septum by maintaining moisture in the nasal passages to prevent dryness and crusting. Ask your doctor about an emollient if you find that your symptoms continue.

In summary, the problem is quite annoying, yet usually not serious. Relatively minor surgical procedures can be performed to close off a hole in the septum or to straighten the septum if it is irregular in shape. Your doctor should do a thorough examination to evaluate for underlying causes such as infection, chemical or drug abuse.

As for the second part of your question, tinnitus is not a disease related to a whistling nose. It is a noise of ringing in the ears. It is very common and affects about one in five people. Although it can be very annoying, tinnitus usually isn’t a sign of something serious. In many cases, the tinnitus worsens with age. The noises have been described as “ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking and hissing.” Some health conditions which can relate to tinnitus include:

• Loud noise causing hearing loss.
• Ear and sinus infections.
• Diseases of the blood vessels.
• Hormone changes in women.
• Brain tumors.
• Thyroid problems.

It is often the first sign of hearing loss in older people. Tinnitus usually begins at the age of 60. In addition to the causes above, something as simple as earwax can be a cause which leads to irritation of the ear drum and can lead to tinnitus. Also, as one ages, the bones get stiffer in the area of the skull where hearing occurs. This can lead to tinnitus. Tinnitus can be caused by some medications including water pills, aspirin, antibiotics and some antidepressants. There is a greater incidence in men.

Tinnitus and whistling in the nose are two very different subjects. Fortunately, both are not usually serious. Tinnitus is much more common than nose whistling. In either event, treatment of the condition can lead to marked improvement. It may improve your overall calmness and well-being.

Thank you for your musical question!