Problems with varicose veins are becoming one of the more common chronic diseases around the world.
Approximately 30 percent of our country’s population consists of people affected by chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that can lead to more serious problems, including varicose veins. If you have chronic venous insufficiency, you typically have heavy legs and swollen ankles at the end of the day. You may also experience pain in your legs or night cramps.
These symptoms occur when the valves in your veins become damaged, making it difficult for blood to move from your legs to your heart against gravity. Blood then begins to pool around your ankles and calves. Over time, poorly functioning valves can cause varicose veins, which appear twisted, string-like, and bluish or purple in color.
If symptoms related to varicose veins affect you, compression socks may help.
Why Should You Use Compression Socks?
Compression socks are a special type of elastic socks that promote healthy blood circulation and help prevent a variety of health problems, including:
•Chronic venous insufficiency
•Spider web veins
•Varicose veins
The pressure these socks apply to your ankles and legs compresses the surface veins, helping the vascular valves function properly and blood flows back to your heart without clogging.
How to Use Compression Socks?
It is extremely important to wear compression socks in the morning before you lower your legs and get out of bed.
Sleeping in a horizontal position allows your vascular valves to work more effectively than when sitting or standing. In the vertical position, gravity takes over and blood flow is compromised due to damaged valves. This is why your ankles and calves usually feel fine in the morning and become swollen and heavy as the day progresses.
Wearing compression socks in the morning will keep the valves in the correct position to promote healthy blood circulation in your legs throughout the day. In this way, it will prevent pooling in the lower parts of the legs that may occur while standing or sitting during the day.
If you have developed varicose veins due to venous insufficiency, compression stockings may help relieve symptoms such as:
• Swollen ankles
• Heavy or painful legs
• Fatigue and pain
• Restless legs
• Night cramps
Studies
Compression stockings can provide many benefits, especially in conditions that aggravate venous conditions, such as:
• Standing or sitting for long periods of time
• Traveling on a long flight or other means of transportation with limited legroom
• Pregnancy
Studies and our clinical experience have shown that compression stockings reduce or prevent evening leg swelling. It is extremely important for people who sit or stand for long periods of time in their jobs to wear compression socks.
How to Choose the Right Pressure Levels?
You should always speak to your doctor for advice on the correct pressure level.
There are four main pressure levels:
Mild Pressure: Should be used if you have mild chronic venous insufficiency to promote healthy blood flow so your legs feel lighter.
Moderate Pressure: Usually recommended when you are experiencing cobwebs or varicose vein symptoms.
Tight And Extra Compression: Stockings are typically recommended by a doctor for more serious cases of various venous diseases, including deep vein thrombosis, leg ulcers, and lymphatic edema.
How to Choose the Right Size?
Choosing the right size for compression socks is crucial to feeling as comfortable as possible and enjoying all the benefits of elastic socks. You will need to take measurements to make sure it fits properly. Here are a few tips:
- Measure your legs before getting out of bed in the morning.
- For knee-length socks, measure at the narrowest part of your ankles and the widest part of your calves. Then sit on your bed, place your feet on the floor and bend your knees so that your legs form a 90-degree angle. Measure between the bent knee of each leg and the floor.
- For full-length above-the-knee socks, start the same way as measuring for knee-high socks.
Proceed by standing up and measuring your thighs under your hips. Finally, measure the distance between your hip and the ground.
Taking these measurements can sometimes be misleading, so when in doubt, seek help or consult your doctor.
How Should Compression Stockings Be Stored?
It is not difficult to properly care for your compression socks. However, there are a few factors to keep in mind to ensure they last as long as possible without losing their elastic properties and benefits:
- Wash with cold or mild water.
- Wash your socks by hand instead of using a washing machine.
- Do not use fabric softener – only soap or mild detergent.
- Never use a dryer. Instead, hang your socks to dry.
- Compression stockings may not always prevent varicose veins. However, they can act as a wonderful supporting mechanism for healthy blood flow and protect your legs from uncomfortable symptoms, especially when worn long term.
Use of compression socks, detailed treatment planning for your varicose veins; You can contact us for more information and appointment.
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