The maintenance of leg health is a lifelong process. The regular use of compression therapy helps manage the adverse effects of high pressure in the veins and improves circulation.
Taking measures to enhance blood flow helps mitigate the possibility of developing chronic venous disease and manage varicose veins.
Limiting the Pressure
If compression therapy is applied in a gradient fashion, it helps mitigate the high pressures that develop in the legs as a consequence of venous insufficiency disease or venous reflux.
Using compression stockings or socks helps enhance blood flow by compressing the veins and enabling the valves in the veins to work properly. The patient can get instant relief from tired, painful legs by wearing a compression hose that delivers the highest level of compression at the ankle and gently decreases the pressure up the leg.
The patient should consult an experienced dermatologist to explore lasting solutions for their vein problems if their leg pain is persistent or the compression stockings merely control the symptoms.
The accomplished Texas Surgical Dermatology, led by board certified dermatologists Dr. Tri H. Nguyen and Dr. George G. Hughes III, provides vein treatments to patients in Houston, Katy, Spring, The Woodlands, Texas, and surrounding locations in The Lone Star State.
Why should you use Compression Stockings?
Compression socks (stockings) are specialized elastic hosiery that support proper blood circulation and help prevent a wide range of medical conditions such as:
- spider veins
- chronic venous insufficiency
- varicose veins
These stockings put pressure on the ankles and legs compressing the superficial veins and arteries assisting the vein valves to function optimally and the blood to flow back to the heart without impediments.
How to Use the Stockings
It is important to wear the compression stockings in the morning before the patient lowers their legs and gets out of bed. Sleeping horizontally helps the valves function more optimally than when standing or sitting.
When the patient is in a vertical position, gravity causes the blood flow to become restricted due to compromised valves. For this reason, the calves and ankles typically feel fine in the morning but get inflamed and heavy during the course of the day.
Wearing compression socks in the morning enables the valves to remain in the correct position to support proper blood circulation in the legs during the day.
Compression stockings can help address symptoms such as:
- heavy or painful legs
- swollen ankles
- night cramps
- restless legs
- tiredness and pain
How to Identify the Correct Compression Level
The patient should always consult their dermatologist to get information on the correct compression level. The four main levels of compression are:
- Mild compression: This compression level is meant for mild chronic venous insufficiency to support proper blood flow enabling the legs to feel lighter.
- Moderate compression: This level of compression is more effective and is typically recommended to patients experiencing symptoms of varicose or spider veins.
- Firm and extra firm compression: Doctors typically recommend this compression level in more serious cases of venous diseases such as leg ulcers, deep vein thrombosis, and lymphatic edema.
Research
Compression stockings can help manage situations that can aggravate venous diseases such as:
- prolonged standing or sitting
- pregnancy
- traveling on a long flight or another means of transportation with restricted legroom
According to a 2004 study, calf-length compression stockings can mitigate or prevent evening inflammation. The researchers recommended that individuals who sit or stand for extended durations in their workplace should wear compression garments.
Board certified dermatologists Dr. Nguyen and Dr. Hughes receive patients from Houston, Katy, Spring, The Woodlands, Texas, and other suburbs and neighborhoods in this majestic part of the country for vein treatment.
