Correct selection of compression garments to protect your blood vessels

compression stockings for varicose veins

Varicose veins continue to conquer the world.

It may have already arrived at your home. Otherwise, it can happen in the future.

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

How to be?

See a phlebologist. He will prescribe treatment and possibly advise you to buy linen for varicose veins. We will talk about him 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 fatal for patients. Yes, it is uncomfortable. For example, with varicose veins symptoms appear:

  • Edema
  • Itching and burning
  • Tired legs
  • Skin discoloration
  • Convulsions
  • Vascular spider webs

It doesn't sound scary. Not surprisingly, many people ignore the symptoms of the disease for years, if not decades.

We understand why they do that. But that doesn't mean these people are right.

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

Trophic ulcers - necrosis of certain areas of the skin due to circulatory disturbances. Such defects take a long time to heal. Ulcers are more likely to come back after treatment.

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

There are also less pleasant examples.

When the venous walls are damaged, blood clots accumulate in them. The problem is that they block blood flow and interfere with the supply of nearby tissues.

But even that is not so bad.

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

After such varicose veins no longer seem to be a harmless disease.

Of course, the disease does not kill in a few days. Dangerous complications sometimes appear only after a few years, but that does not mean that there is no need for treatment. See your doctor as soon as possible.

To combat varicose veins, an integrated approach is used. 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 alone will not solve the problem. But it will become an important part of the therapy and relieve the symptoms of the disease.

You can't believe the underwear will help you. After all, how are knits related to vessels?

We will tell you about it now.

Healing pressure - how compression garments help blood vessels

Dilated veins do not pump blood well to the heart. The knitting creates pressure on certain areas of the legs. This improves blood circulation and reduces stress on the venous walls.

Lingerie with varicose veins creates a kind of frame around the vessels. This support prevents the expansion of weak veins and keeps their walls in good condition.

The choice of pressing force depends on the area of the leg. For example, the maximum pressure jersey is commonly used on the ankles. In this area, blood begins to flow to the heart and a lot of effort is needed to overcome the force of gravity.

But on the hips, the jersey is used with a pressure of 40% of the maximum. Here, the blood in the veins moves more easily and does not need a solid support.

Consult a phlebologist for the appropriate compression garment. A badly chosen jersey will not help your ships, but it will hurt them.

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

Types of compression stockings

types of compression stockings

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

If you buy jersey for the treatment of varicose veins, go through a medical examination first. 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:

  • Low
  • Tights
  • Socks

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

We'll talk about the benefits of socks, tights, and golf below.

Compression stockings

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

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

Knitted stockings for the treatment of varicose veins are also used during pregnancy. When carrying a child, the vessels of the body of women are exposed to great stress and often swell. Therefore, for 2-3 trimesters, doctors advise pregnant women to wear this underwear.

Compression stockings are versatile. They help varicose veins even above the knee, but they are more comfortable to wear than tights.

Compression tights

This type of jersey completely covers the legs from the toes to the waist. The tights against varicose veins do not slip when walking and are comfortable to wear. However, you have to remember that you will have to take them off several times a day, and it takes time.

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

If blood vessel problems have spread above the hips, pantyhose for varicose veins will be more helpful than stockings or knee socks. Their functions:

  • Improve blood circulation
  • Leg muscle massage
  • Venous wall support
  • Removal of excess lymphatic fluid

Compression tights are used for the prevention and treatment of varicose veins. They are also prescribed for recovery after leg surgery.

Compression knee-highs

Socks for varicose veins are prescribed for people with diseased veins in the lower legs. If blood vessel problems have arisen below the knees, these underwear will help.

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

This underwear fulfills the following functions:

  • Constriction of blood vessels
  • Strengthens the venous walls
  • Removes edema

Socks for varicose veins are comfortable to wear under clothing. If necessary, they can be removed quickly, for example, during an examination by a doctor.

Remember that the effectiveness of knits depends on the pressure on your legs. These are the so-called compression classes. We will talk about this later.

Knitwear classes for varicose veins

knitwear classes for varicose veins

The compression class of laundry is measured in millimeters of mercury or mmHg. Art. As we have already said, the pressure is maximum at the level of the feet. It decreases from bottom to top. Therefore, the upper part of the jersey hardly exerts pressure on the legs.

There are 4 classes of compression:

1st class: Pressure from 18 to 22 mmHg. Art. It is used for the prevention of varicose veins and the treatment of the initial stage of the disease.

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

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

4th year: Pressure from 46 to 50 mmHg. Art. Such knitwear helps to fight lymphostasis and edema in case of complications of varicose veins. Often prescribed after operations.

You can buy knits for prevention yourself, without consulting a phlebologist. He doesn't squeeze his legs too tight and won't hurt. But underwear in classes 2 to 4 should be chosen only by a doctor.

How to choose compression garments to avoid varicose veins

If you are planning to buy knitwear for varicose vein prevention, take a measurement first. When you wake up, don't get out of bed. Immediately measure your calf, thigh and ankle circumference. You also need to know the length of the foot and the leg. When shopping for lingerie, these measurements will come in handy.

Choose knee-highs, stockings or tights depending on the location of the problematic veins. If they are below the knees, the knee socks will suit you. To stop the development of varicose veins in the upper legs, buy anti-varicose stockings or tights.

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

Manufacturers produce a wide range of compression stockings. You just have to choose the stockings, tights or knee-highs that are right for you.

Postoperative care - how many knits to wear after treatment

If you have advanced varicose veins and have had vascular surgery, you need to wear special underwear for a full recovery. The phlebologist will tell you how long you need to walk in it.

Don't break the knitting routine.

Remember that the doctor prescribed this underwear for you for a reason. The effectiveness of the treatment directly depends on whether or not you wear knits.

Imagine, you've decided to go without pantyhose that made you cringe for just one day. Looks like it's okay.

But this is not the case.

The swimsuit closes the wound left after the operation. It keeps air out and prevents poisoning of the blood. In addition, the underwear protects the blood vessels from the formation of blood clots.

Don't risk your health. You have already had the operation and now a full recovery does not depend on the doctor. Take a few months and you can resume a fulfilling life with healthy veins.

The phlebologist decides how long the swimsuit should be worn. You cannot undress for long without consulting it.

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

After miniflebectomy

After surgery, the treated leg should be covered with elastic jersey. It has been shown to reduce intradermal bleeding and pain. In addition, special underwear helps prevent venous thrombosis.

Compression stockings after miniflebectomy should be worn for at least one week. The maximum period is 6 weeks. During this period, 2nd-class knits are usually allocated, but there is no need to use them more. Class 1 linen is sufficient to support ships.

After sclerotherapy

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

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

7 signs you need to wear compression stockings

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

  • Overweight
  • Pregnancy
  • Vascular asterisks
  • Heavy loads on the legs
  • Passive lifestyle
  • Diabetes
  • Predisposition to vascular disease

With obesity, elastic stockings from varicose veins help to lose weight faster. They eliminate excess fluid, smooth out fatty folds and tone the skin.

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

Who is contraindicated to wear compression stockings

Unfortunately, not everyone can experience the benefits of special vein lingerie. In some diseases, it is dangerous. Here is a list of them:

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

Another treatment for varicose veins with stockings is contraindicated for people with chronic diseases of the arteries of the legs, if the upper pressure has fallen below 80 mm Hg. From art.

Extend the life of knits - maintenance rules

If you want varicose vein compression underwear to serve you until it heals, you need to take proper care of it. For example, it should be washed every day.

You can ask, "Why, because I don't mess it up? ""

Even so, dust collects on the stockings during the day. In addition, dead skin cells are deposited there. So you can't do without washing yourself.

Use baby soap or other products designed for delicate fabrics. Wash your laundry by hand.

But what you can't do with:

  • Boiling
  • Bring out
  • Dry on a horizontal surface

This will damage the stockings and make them unusable for processing.

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

If you've read this far, you may have learned a lot about compression garments. It only remains for us to tell you where you will be helped to choose it.

Doctors will quickly diagnose and select compression stockings

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

The doctor will review the medical history and perform an examination. Then he will carry out ultrasound diagnostics - he will show the diseased vessels in great detail.

Once the diagnosis is made, the doctor will determine if you need knits and, if so, which one. To select it, the doctor must know the size and shape of the leg, as well as your daily routine.

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