Compression stockings are widely used to maintain physiologically correct pressure in the lower extremities of a person. Such socks are used in the complex treatment of varicose veins, as well as for the prevention of this disease. In medicine, special underwear for veins is called medical knitwear. It is also called compression or anti-varicose underwear, medical knitwear.
Tights, socks, as well as compression knees for varicose veins are recommended to be worn by phlebologists. Such underwear should also be worn for thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, lymphedema and other vascular problems.
What kind of compression underwear, which is better - compression tights or socks, the doctor will tell and recommend at the time of appointment.
The therapeutic effect when using such underwear manifests itself due to the fact that socks, leggings or tights support the veins, compress the dilated veins. This, in turn, distributes blood flow evenly from dilated arteries to healthy ones.
Such underwear helps to activate blood circulation and improve tissue nutrition.
Choosing the right compression garment can help reduce the risk of blood clots.
Another important argument in favor of using such underwear is that there are almost no contraindications to the use of medical knitwear. It does not cause side effects, but is also a good way to prevent the development of varicose veins and helps keep the veins in a physiological state.
How does a compression garment work for varicose veins?
In the past, when medical knitwear was not produced, elastic bandages were used for varicose veins. However, their use has a number of significant drawbacks.
- First of all, elastic bandages should be applied for a long time, and this should be done properly to achieve the desired effect.
- An important disadvantage is the inability to always wear an elastic bandage. The non-aesthetic appearance does not allow her to wear it every day, for example, compression underwear and knitted clothes from other modern manufacturers look very beautiful and aesthetic.
- Despite the low cost of bandages, it will not be possible to save money when wearing them. After all, such a bandage quickly becomes useless. Therefore, it is better to choose high-quality knitwear and buy compression underwear for varicose veins.
What is compression underwear for and what is its effect? By squeezing the dilated veins, this knitted fabric accelerates blood flow from the deep veins. As a result, venous stasis, which is a prerequisite for the development of varicose veins, is eliminated. Those who are interested in which compression underwear is better for varicose veins should consider that it is worth buying high quality products. After all, high-quality branded knitwear provides a gradual reduction of pressure from the wrist to the shoulder or from the lower leg to the thigh.
For example, a good online store of compression underwear for varicose veins offers socks that provide maximum (100%) pressure on the lower leg and partial (40%) pressure on the thigh area. From a physiological point of view, this distribution is the most accurate, and therefore gives the greatest therapeutic effect. With this pressure distribution mode, blood flow is normalized due to the following effects:
- The operation of the valve apparatus improves and normalizes.
- The enlarged lumen of the peripheral vessels of the thighs and lower legs, especially the subcutaneous ones, is reduced.
- The effect of the muscle pump is increasing. As the muscles contract during exercise, the blood is pushed upwards.
Effective compression underwear for pregnant women. However, during pregnancy, you should choose such a form based on the individual recommendations of your doctor.
How to choose compression stockings?
Before choosing compression stockings for varicose veins, you should clearly understand that such underwear can not eliminate the serious causes of venous insufficiency. Therefore, it is used before radical treatment. Medical knitwear simulates a condition such as dilated, removed, or sealed veins.
In addition, it should be understood that non-surgical treatment of foot diseases should always be comprehensive. Only in this case, the impact will be maximized. It is very important not only to wear compression underwear, but also to use ointments and creams prescribed by a doctor, to engage in folk remedies for the prevention and treatment of varicose veins, as well as to lead a healthy lifestyle.
It is important to choose the right medical underwear to make the effect most noticeable. In this case, it is necessary to take into account not only the reviews and canvas prices that can be read online, but also the quality, compression classes.
Compression stockings are usually divided into three types:
- hospital - ie a hospital used only in a hospital;
- medical;
- prophylactic.
However, whether the knitwear is needed for treatment or prevention, it should be purchased only in specialized stores or outlets that are official dealers of such underwear manufacturers recognized by doctors. In such stores, consumers should be helped to choose the right size for knitwear, because the effectiveness of the treatment depends on it. To find the perfect underwear, the seller first measures the foot in four places. Then, a table of special size is used, where socks or tights are selected.
You can buy underwear in four compression degrees:
- First class compression(18-21 mm Hg) - prophylactic knitwear indicated in the following cases of wear:
- during pregnancy;
- with a tendency to varicose veins;
- if there are initial symptoms of varicose veins: if the veins are visible under the skin, if the legs ache after standing or sitting for a long time, you can distinguish open spider veins in the legs, and in the evening edema appears;
- if a person leads a lifestyle in which he has to sit or stand a lot - in the office, while driving, behind the counter, etc.
- Second class compression(23-32 mm Hg) - the most popular underwear. Class 2 compression stockings are used to treat varicose veins, thrombophlebitis. The hospital also uses compression class 2 hospital knitwear.
- Third class compression(34-46 mm Hg) - Compression seats of this class are used for patients with trophic disorders and severe venous insufficiency.
- Fourth grade compression(From 49 mm Hg) - this class is very rarely used - for men and women with lymphatic edema.
Before buying socks or tights for varicose veins, you need to decide which type of underwear is better to buy. Those who buy anti-varicose tights for the first time should not immediately choose a 2nd class compression. After all, it can be a very strong compression for the vascular system.
First, it is better to buy cheap underwear - the price of 1st class compression tights from some companies will be quite reasonable. After wearing it and gradually getting used to such underwear, you can then buy more expensive orthopedic tights for varicose veins.
Only 1st grade underwear is used for prevention. If a person is already developing varicose veins, then a phlebologist will help you choose tights. You should also ask your doctor how to choose compression tights for pregnant women so that the expectant mother feels comfortable wearing such underwear. In this case, it is important to choose the size of anti-varicose tights or socks so as not to cause any discomfort.
However, no matter how enthusiastic the reviews about this or that underwear, you should understand that it does not cure varicose veins, because wearing underwear does not eliminate the causes of the disease. Compression stockings help stop the development of the disease and prevent the formation of new varicose veins.
It is not possible to wear such underwear in hot summer weather, so it is necessary to use drugs for varicose veins in the summer and use other methods to combat this disease.
To avoid damaging the product and get the greatest effect, you need to know how to properly wear compression tights - these are shown in the instructions.
Regardless of the price of such a canvas, it can keep the compression for about 5-7 months.
What you need to know when buying compression stockings?
Before buying such underwear, you need to know exactly how to choose the right compression stockings for varicose veins. Special quality standards have been set for compression garments. The most important and tough of them is the European RAL-GZ-387.
Every manufacturer who wants to produce a suitable knitwear must first pass a very strict certification in Switzerland or Germany. Therefore, if there is such a certificate of elastic orthopedic socks for varicose veins, it indicates its high quality. Knitted products with such a certificate provide distributed pressure on the limb (40-70-100%) and are therapeutic. The packaging of standard products is also evidenced by the presence of a special label.
To choose a good product, you should first pay attention not only to the price of such laptops or socks, but also to the manufacturer and the proven point of sale of the goods. Indeed, it is very easy to make a mistake in the domestic market and buy fake medical socks or tights. In addition, in specialty stores, the buyer will definitely be asked how to determine the size for both men and women. You should buy compression stockings for pregnant women in reputable stores.
It is very important to choose a hypoallergenic model because medical underwear is worn daily. Therefore, you should pay attention not to user feedback, but to personal feelings. The canvas must bear the mark of the European environmental standard Oeko-Tex Standard 10 - this guarantees that the product is made of non-allergenic material.
How to wear compression stockings properly?
When buying medicated knitwear, you need to know how to wear such underwear and wear it properly.
People who want to prevent the development of varicose veins often wear 2nd class compression stockings. After all, both the efficiency and cost of 2nd grade compression stockings are often the most acceptable for the patient. However, it often happens that second-degree compression products are very uncomfortable for a person to wear. In addition, 2nd grade compression is often inconvenient for men and women due to a person not wearing such a product properly. After all, it can not be worn as tights for a child who gathers on an accordion and pulls his socks up to his thighs. Both tights and socks or stockings above the knee should be worn slowly, gradually flattening them on the feet.
Such underwear will be difficult for obese people. You can buy special tools in the store to facilitate this process. The price of such devices depends on the manufacturer. Compression stockings should be worn with gloves to avoid damaging the canvas with nails. In addition, if a person wears medical or other gloves, the canvas slips better.
If you are worried about wearing second-class compression underwear, you can sometimes limit yourself to first-class compression. In addition, the price of 1st class compression stockings for women and men is lower. However, the cost of socks for varicose veins in the legs depends on other factors.
The legs of a person wearing a medical shirt should be smooth - rough, without calluses. Cut your toenails short and bend your nails to prevent them from blowing on your laundry.
It is better to wear such underwear in the morning, rested and not swollen areas, respectively. In this case, both the feet and the knitwear should be completely dry.
For those who are interested in whether it is possible to sleep in such socks, you should understand that it is not necessary, because the load on the limbs during sleep is minimal.
If a phlebologist advises a patient to wear Class 3 products, it will be more difficult to wear them and therefore more time will have to be spent on it. It is better to use special devices for this.
If the measurement chart provided on a particular site seems vague, it is better to ask a specialist how to choose the size of compression stockings for surgery or for everyday wear. After all, if the size is chosen incorrectly, it will be extremely inconvenient to wear such underwear.
It is important to take good care of these items and know how to wash and dry them.
Compression garment care
When buying orthopedic underwear for women and men, you should take into account that it is best to have at least two pairs of such uniforms. After all, to get rid of dust, debris and dead skin particles, it is necessary to wash it daily, which can quickly damage the fibers of the laundry.
Washing is done only by hand, with baby soap. Such canvases should not be washed on a typewriter. Wash at a temperature not exceeding 40 ° C. It is forbidden to iron and bleach it. Also, do not use conditioners and rinses. After all, they also destroy the structure of the connective tissue.
Dry the compression stockings by spreading them on a horizontal surface. You can't wrap it up, you can easily get wet with a towel. It is not allowed to dry the pants in the sun, in the vertical position of the battery.
You need to be very careful with the silicone strips that are important for securing the laundry. It is better not to wet them during washing and wipe them with a disinfectant napkin.
What to wear with such products depends on a woman's taste. But as a rule, knitwear from modern manufacturers is very beautiful and elegant.
Contraindications to wearing compression underwear
Before choosing compression knees for varicose veins, you need to know exactly whether the patient has any contraindications to wearing them. Medical knitwear has several such contraindications.
There are strict contraindications, as well as relative contraindications to wearing such a uniform after consulting a doctor - cardiologist, dermatologist, endocrinologist.
Wearing a medical shirt is a complete contraindication for such diseases:
- atherosclerosis;
- endoarteritis;
- orthoarteritis;
- obliteran thromboangiitis.
Under these conditions, the lumen of the vessels decreases and systolic blood pressure drops to 80 mm. rt. Art. , therefore, it is strictly forbidden to reduce the pressure in the lower extremities.
Compression garments should be worn very carefully for those with skin problems and hypersensitivity of the skin.
You should not wear socks or tights for allergic skin manifestations and inflammatory processes, as well as dermatitis, bed sores, eczema, thrombophlebitis, open wounds.
If varicose veins manifest themselves as a result of diabetes, such underwear should not be used. Compression stockings are not used in cases of septic phlebitis, severe heart and lung failure, if circulatory problems manifest themselves at rest.
You can also find an opinion that knitwear can cause atrophy of the muscle layer of the walls of blood vessels. When a person stops wearing medical underwear, there is a possibility of side effects, as a result of which the venous wall will stretch and the varicose veins will progress further.
Of course, it is impossible to check the condition of every vein in a person wearing such underwear. However, most phlebologists argue in favor of this theory, citing the following arguments:
- a person cannot wear a medical uniform day and night;
- if the arteries constrict, their blood flow decreases but does not stop;
- As a rule, atrophy of the muscle wall develops when a person has a genetic predisposition, as well as if a local specific inflammatory process develops with venous stasis, and these events are reduced when using knitwear;
- Sometimes, after stopping the use of linen, at first a person feels a little worse, because for a while the tone of the venous wall decreases, but we are not talking about atrophy.
Also, people with varicose veins may find it harder to walk after wearing such underwear. Therefore, many people choose not to refuse to wear it.
Thus, compression garments, which have been used for many decades, are a convenient and effective method for the prevention and treatment of varicose veins. However, you should consult a phlebologist before using it. The doctor will determine the patient's condition and help choose the most appropriate product.