It is important to remember that it takes a few weeks to get used to wearing compression stockings. Subsequent pairs of stockings can be purchased on many discount internet stocking suppliers such as Discount Surgical.* If worn daily, stockings should be replaced every 3-4 months as they lose their compression. I recommend that my patients get their first pair from a medical supply store where they can get measured and ensure the stockings fit properly.
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Compression stockings need to be fitted and sized correctly. In my experience, most people buy a cheap pair of stockings off the store shelf without getting measured properly and this leads to an uncomfortable and often painful experience. If they will not prevent CVI, why wear them? Compression stockings are difficult and uncomfortable to wear. This reduces but does not eliminate the chances of developing CVI in the future. This “compression gradient” causes blood to accelerate from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure thereby preventing blood from pooling in the legs. What do compression stockings have to do with CVI?Ĭompression stockings have higher compression at the foot and ankle than at the knee or thigh. This explains why there is such high incidence of CVI with the vast majority of patients going undiagnosed in their lifetime.ĬVI is 2x more prevalent that heart disease and 5x more prevalent than peripheral arterial disease. When you look at all the risk factors together, all of us have at least 2-3 risks factors for CVI. Pregnancy, prior deep vein thrombosis, obesity, inactivity, and occupations that require prolonged sitting or standing are additional risk factors for CVI. In terms of family history, some studies have shown nearly a 50% risk of developing CVI in one’s lifetime if one parent has CVI and nearly a 90% risk if both parents have CVI. These two factors play a large role in CVI. This leads to blood pooling in the legs, especially in the calves and feet, leading to a variety of symptoms including:Īs previously mentioned, age and gravity are two factors that none of us can escape from. CVI is due to blood flowing backwards in the superficial veins due to malfunctioning valves. In fact, CVI is 2x more prevalent that heart disease and 5x more prevalent than peripheral arterial disease. What is chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)?ĬVI is one of the most common vascular conditions worldwide. The most common strength is 20-30 mmHg and is used for patients with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). The highest strength is 40-50 mmHg and is used for those with lymphedema or severe venous disease known as phlebolymphedema. The lowest strength ranges from 8-15 mmHg, are sold over the counter, and are often used in hospitals to reduce the risk of blood clots (aka deep vein thrombosis). They are completely reliant on the one-way valves to push the blood back towards the heart.Ĭompression stockings come in different strengths measured in “millimeters of mercury”, just like your blood pressure.
#Figs compression socks skin
Unfortunately, the superficial veins lie just underneath the skin and do NOT get the benefit of muscle contraction. Since the deep veins are “deep inside the leg muscles”, these veins get squeezed during walking as the muscles contract and this further thrusts the blood up towards the heart. Since blood flow in the veins must go against gravity, both types of veins have one-way valves to help push blood back towards the heart. There are two type of veins in the leg - deep veins and superficial veins. Veins return the blood from the rest of the body back to the heart.
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How do compression stockings work?Īrteries carry blood from the heart and to the rest of the body. Second, they minimize pooling of blood in the dependent portion of your legs due to the effects of gravity. First, they improve the function of the muscle pump system in your calf. Compression stockings improve blood flow in two ways. The primary purpose of compression stockings (or compression socks) is to improve blood flow in the legs. What is the purpose of compression stockings? In this article, I will highlight the health benefits of compression stockings and discuss who should and should not wear them. If there is one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s that there are two things that none of us can escape - getting older and gravity.
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Fast forward nearly 15 years and compression stockings have become a part of my everyday wardrobe, no matter the occasion.Īs a vascular interventional radiologist, I specialize in treating diseases of the arteries and veins in patients in their teens all the way up to those in their 80s and 90s.
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They’re difficult to put on, uncomfortable, and unattractive.” Believe me, I understand. When you clicked on this article, you may have thought, “There’s no way I would ever wear compression stockings.