Choosing the right compression garments to protect your blood vessels

compression stockings for varicose veins

Varicose veins continue to conquer the world.

He may have already arrived at your home. If not, it could happen in the future.

Remember that in developed countries of Europe and North America, varicose veins affect up to 35% of adults. Moreover, with age, the number of patients only increases.

How to be?

See a phlebologist. He will prescribe treatment and probably advise you to buy linen for varicose veins. We will tell about it later.

Do you think varicose veins are not dangerous?

Let's see if this is the case.

Varicose veins- It is an enlargement of the veins of the legs, which occurs due to the weakening of the venous valves. It disrupts blood circulation.

Oddly enough, the disease itself is not life threatening for patients. Yes, it is uncomfortable. For example, varicose veins show symptoms:

  • Edema
  • Itching and burning
  • Tired legs
  • Skin discoloration
  • Convulsions
  • Vascular networks

It does not sound scary. It is not surprising that many people ignore the symptoms of the disease for years, and sometimes decades.

We understand why they do this. But this does not mean that these people are right.

The main danger with varicose veins are not the symptoms but the complications.

Trophic ulcers - necrosis of certain areas of the skin due to circulatory disorders. Such defects require a very long time to heal. The ulcer is more likely to recur after therapy.

Blood clots are blood clots that occur when the wall of blood vessels is damaged. They are useful in some situations. For example, if you cut yourself, a blood clot will prevent heavy bleeding.

There are also less entertaining examples.

When the venous walls are damaged, blood clots accumulate on them. The problem is that they block blood flow and damage the nearby tissue supply.

But even that is not so bad.

When blood clots break off and move through the body along with the blood, real games with death begin. If blood clots enter the heart or brain and block the blood vessels there, the patient may die.

Behind these varicose veins no longer appears a harmless disease.

Of course, the disease does not kill within two days. Dangerous complications sometimes appear only after a few years, but that does not mean it does not need to be treated. See your doctor as soon as possible.

An integrated approach is used to combat varicose veins. This means that it is impossible to get rid of diseased blood vessels only with the help of medication or exercise. Even treating varicose veins with compression stockings will not solve the problem on its own. But it will become an important part of the therapy and will alleviate the symptoms of the disease.

You may not believe that underwear will help you. After all, how does knitwear relate to dishes?

We will tell you about it now.

Healing pressure - how compression garments help blood vessels

Varicose veins do not pump blood well to the heart. Knitwear creates pressure in certain areas of the feet. This improves blood circulation and reduces stress on the venous walls.

Varicose underwear creates a kind of frame around the dishes. This support prevents the expansion of weak veins and keeps their walls in good shape.

The choice of pressure force depends on the foot area. For example, the maximum pressure sweater is commonly used on the ankles. In this area blood begins to rise in the heart and it takes a lot of effort to overcome the force of gravity.

But in the groin, the sweater is used with a pressure of 40% of the maximum. Here the blood in the veins moves more easily and does not need strong support.

Consult a phlebologist for proper compression dressing. An improperly chosen jersey will not help your boats, but will damage them.

Here are the situations in which certain types of underwear are used.

Types of compression socks

types of compression socks

In order for anti-varicose underwear to have a beneficial effect on the veins, you need to choose them correctly. These are medical devices that are not always useful for blood vessels. Again, excessive pressure from the clothes will only worsen the condition of the veins.

If you buy sweater for the treatment of varicose veins, then first pass an examination to the doctor. He will check the condition of the blood vessels and determine which compression garment is right for you.

It is divided into 3 main types:

  • Socks
  • geta
  • Knee socks

The choice of knitwear depends on the location of the diseased veins, lifestyle and other factors.

Next we will talk about the benefits of socks, tights and golf.

Compression stockings

This is the name of a product for the prevention and treatment of varicose veins. Used mainly in the early stages of the disease. Socks against varicose veins tightly wrap the legs and press against the walls of blood vessels, improving blood circulation. They also:

  • Prevents blood clots
  • Relieve swelling
  • Relieve pain after standing for a long time
  • Protects against varicose veins

Knitted socks for the treatment of varicose veins are also used during pregnancy. When carrying a baby, the vessels in a woman’s body are exposed to great stress and often swell. Therefore, for the 2-3rd trimester, doctors advise pregnant women to wear these underwear.

Compression stockings are versatile. Varicose veins also help above the knee, but are more comfortable to wear than tights.

Compression stockings

This type of flannel completely covers the feet from the toes to the waist. Tights from varicose veins do not slip while walking and are comfortable to wear. However, you need to remember that you will need to remove them several times a day, and this takes time.

This underwear is often recommended for pregnant women as it not only protects the veins but also supports the abdomen.

If vascular problems have spread above the hips, anti-varicose vein tights will help better than socks or up to the knee. Their functions:

  • Improving blood circulation
  • Foot muscle massage
  • Venous wall support
  • Elimination of excess lymphatic fluid

Compression stockings are used to prevent and treat varicose veins. They are also prescribed for recovery from foot surgery.

Knee compression

Varicose vein stockings are prescribed to people with diseased veins in the lower legs. If problems with blood vessels have appeared below the knees, then such underwear will help you.

They do not restrict movement. Therefore, in golf you can practice or walk. Many people take them with them on their travels.

These underwear perform the following functions:

  • Narrow blood vessels
  • Strengthens venous walls
  • Removes edema

Anti-varicose socks are comfortable to wear under clothes. If necessary, they can be removed quickly, for example, during an examination by a doctor.

Remember - the effectiveness of knitted garments depends on how much you press them on your feet. These are the so-called compression classes. We will talk about them further.

Knitted clothing classes against varicose veins

knitwear classes against varicose veins

Cloth compression grade is measured in millimeters of mercury or mmHg. Art. As we have already said, the pressure is maximum on the feet. It decreases from the bottom up. Therefore, the top of the jersey hardly exerts foot pressure.

There are 4 classes of compression:

class 1: Pressure from 18 to 22 mmHg. Art. Used to prevent varicose veins and treat the initial stage of the disease.

2nd grade: Pressure from 23 to 32 mmHg. Art. It is prescribed for the treatment of varicose veins of the second degree and thrombophlebitis. Wear it and your ulcers will heal faster.

3rd grade: Pressure from 33 to 45 mmHg. Art. Doctors recommend this underwear to patients with trophic disorders and venous insufficiency.

4th grade: Pressure from 46 to 50 mmHg. Art. Such knitted dressings help fight lymphostasis and edema in case of varicose vein complications. It is often prescribed after surgery.

You can buy knitwear for prevention yourself, without consulting a phlebologist. It does not tighten the legs too much and will not hurt. But grades 2-4 underwear should only be chosen by a doctor.

How to choose compression garments to avoid varicose veins

If you are going to buy knitwear to prevent varicose veins, then start by making a measurement. When you wake up, do not get out of bed. Immediately measure the circumference of the calf, thigh and ankle. You also need to know the length of the leg and foot. When buying underwear, these measurements will come in handy.

Choose knee-length tops, socks or tights based on the location of problematic veins. If they are below the knees, they will fit you up to the knee. To stop the development of varicose veins in the upper legs, buy socks or tights against varicose veins.

Pay attention to the knit fabric. Give preference to cotton products - they are light and comfortable to wear. Some manufacturers produce underwear with antibacterial and antifungal coatings. It will not bother you with an unpleasant odor.

Manufacturers produce a wide range of compression socks. Just choose socks, tights or up to the knee that fit you.

Postoperative care - how much you should wear knitwear after treatment

If you have varicose veins in the late stage and have undergone vascular surgery, then for complete recovery you should wear special underwear. The phlebologist will tell you how long you should walk in it.

Do not disrupt the knitwear routine.

Remember, your doctor has prescribed these underwear for a reason. The effectiveness of the treatment depends directly on whether you wore knitwear or not.

Imagine, you decided to do without tights that have put your teeth on the edge for just one day. It seems to be okay.

But this is not the case.

The T-shirt closes the wound left after the operation. Prevents the entry of air and prevents blood poisoning. Also, the insides protect the blood vessels from the formation of blood clots.

Do not risk your health. You have already undergone surgery and now a full recovery does not depend on the doctor. Take a few months and you can return to a full life with healthy veins.

The phlebologist decides how long the T-shirt should be worn. You can not remove clothes for a long time without consulting him.

We will show you in detail how much to wear compression stockings after phlebectomy and sclerotherapy.

After miniflectomy

After surgery, the treated foot should be covered with elastic sweater. It has been shown to reduce hemorrhage and intradermal pain. Also, special underwear helps prevent venous thrombosis.

Compression stockings after miniflebectomy should be worn for at least a week. The maximum period is 6 weeks. During this period, 2nd grade knitwear is usually assigned, but it is futile to use it further. Class 1 freedom is sufficient to support ships.

After sclerotherapy

The shelf life of compression stockings depends on the number of vessels treated. For example, if a doctor healed 1-2 veins, then you should only wear socks or tights for 3-4 months. During this time, new, healthy containers will appear.

If the phlebologist has healed 5-6 veins, it will take longer to walk with class 2 knitwear, up to 6 months. The doctor will then perform an examination and if the recovery is successful, you will be allowed to use underwear of a lower compression class.

7 Signs You Should Wear Compression Socks

Such underwear is useful not only for varicose veins. We recommend that you consider purchasing a preventative t-shirt if you have any of these signs:

  • Excess weight
  • pregnant
  • Vascular stars
  • Heavy foot loads
  • Passive lifestyle
  • dIABETES
  • Predisposition to vascular disease

With obesity, elastic stockings from varicose veins help to lose weight faster. They remove excess fluid, soften fat folds and tone the skin.

For pregnant women, underwear helps support the abdominal muscles. This prevents many problems, such as uterine prolapse.

Who is contraindicated to wear compression stockings

Unfortunately, not everyone can benefit from the benefits of special underwear. In some diseases, this is dangerous. Here is a list of them:

  • Severe angiopathy and diabetic polyneuropathy
  • Trophic ulcers that are not associated with vascular disease
  • Acute soft tissue infection
  • Cardiopulmonary failure
  • Septic phlebitis

Another treatment of varicose veins with socks is contraindicated for people with chronic leg artery disease, if the upper pressure drops below 80 mm Hg. Art.

Extending the life of knitted garments - rules of care

If you want varicose vein underwear to serve you until recovery, you need to take proper care of it. For example, it should be washed daily.

You may ask, "Why, because I do not get dirty? ".

Even so, dust accumulates in the socks during the day. In addition, dead skin cells settle on them. So you can not do without washing.

Use baby soap or other products made for delicate fabrics. Wash your clothes by hand.

But what you can not do with it:

  • Boil
  • Squeeze
  • Dry on a horizontal surface

This will damage the socks and make them useless for treatment.

By following these simple rules, you can use a jersey until your recovery.

If you have read so far, you may have learned a lot about compression garments. It remains to be seen where you will be helped to choose it.

Doctors will quickly diagnose and choose compression stockings

If you need to choose underwear not for prevention, but for the treatment of varicose veins, then you can not do without the help of a phlebologist. We recommend that you make an appointment with a specialist clinic.

The doctor will review the medical history and perform an examination. He will then perform the ultrasound diagnosis - will show the diseased vessels down to the smallest detail.

After making the diagnosis, the doctor will determine if you need knitwear and if so, which one. To select it, the doctor needs to know the size and shape of the foot as well as your daily routine.

To find out how to buy compression stockings, simply consult a phlebologist at the medical center.