If the rhinitis has been present for a long time, it can lead to turbine dysfunction. The turbinates are structures in the side walls of the nose that regulate air flow and participate in other important nasal functions. With chronic inflammation, these structures enlarge and remain congested. Treatment of irreversible turbinate enlargement is surgical removal of a portion of the turbinate. Sometimes this is done in conjunction with surgical correction of any other structural abnormalities of the nose.
Chronic inflammation can also lead to the formation of polyps.
These are tags of inflammatory tissue which block the breathing passages and often impair the sense of smell. Trauma or injury is another common cause of nasal obstruction. Injuries may lead to a narrowed air passage or a deviated nasal septum, the column that separates the two sides of the nose. Structural defects due to injury can disrupt this cycle and lead to increased nasal obstruction. Even though an injury may have occurred many years ago, symptoms may develop later in life as the cartilages forming the sides of the nostril lose their elasticity and obstruct the nasal passageway.