What are the turbinates and what do they do?

The turbinates are three shelves on the side of the inside of the nose that serve to warm inhaled air before it enters the lungs. The turbinate that often becomes too enlarged and causes nasal blockage is the lower turbinate. Turbinates normally enlarge and shrink throughout the day. If they become too enlarged with infections, allergies, or other irritants contributing to nasal blockage, it is called turbinate hypertrophy (enlarged turbinates).