Varicose veins continue to take over the world.
It may already have arrived at your home. If not, it could happen in the future.
Remember that in the developed countries of Europe and North America, varicose veins affect up to 35% of adults. Furthermore, with age, the number of patients only increases.
How to be?
See a phlebologist. She will prescribe a treatment for you and possibly advise you to purchase varicose vein linens. We will talk about him later.
Do you think varicose veins are not dangerous?
Let's see if that's the case.
Varicose veins- This is an enlargement of the leg veins, which occurs due to the weakening of the venous valves. Stops blood circulation.
Oddly, the disease itself is not life-threatening for patients. Yes, it is inconvenient. For example, with varicose veins, symptoms appear:
- Edema
- Itching and burning
- Tired legs
- Skin discoloration
- convulsions
- Vascular cobwebs
It doesn't look scary. Not surprisingly, many people ignore the symptoms of the disease for years and sometimes decades.
We understand why they do it. 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 disorders. Such defects take a long time to heal. Ulcers are more likely to come back after therapy.
Blood clots are blood clots that occur when the vessel wall is damaged. They are useful in some situations. For example, if you cut yourself, blood clots prevent heavy bleeding.
There are also less pleasant examples.
When the venous walls are damaged, blood clots accumulate on them. The problem is that they block blood flow and impair the supply of nearby tissues.
But this is also not that bad.
When the blood clots break off and move through the body along with the blood, the real games with death begin. If blood clots enter the heart or brain and block blood vessels, the patient can die.
After such varicose veins they no longer seem to be a harmless disease.
Of course, the disease doesn't kill in a couple of days. Dangerous complications sometimes only appear after a few years, but that doesn't mean they don't need to be treated. 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 drugs or exercises. Treating varicose veins with compression stockings will also not solve the problem on its own. But it will become an important part of therapy and relieve the symptoms of the disease.
You may not believe that underwear will help you. After all, what is the relationship between knitwear and ships?
We will tell you about it now.
Healing Pressure: How compression garments help blood vessels
Dilated veins do not pump blood to the heart well. The knitwear creates pressure on certain areas of the legs. This improves blood circulation and reduces stress on the venous walls.
Linen 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 shape.
The choice of the pressing force depends on the area of the leg. For example, the maximum pressure mesh is commonly used on the ankles. In this area the blood begins to rise to the heart and a great effort is required 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 strong support.
Consult a phlebologist for the correct compression garment. An improperly chosen mesh will not help your ships, but it will damage them.
Here are the situations in which certain types of underwear are used.
Types of compression stockings
In order for anti-varicose underwear to have a beneficial effect on the veins, it is necessary to choose it correctly. These are medical devices that are not always useful for blood vessels. Again, too much pressure from the laundry will only worsen the condition of the veins.
If you are purchasing a varicose vein treatment shirt, first undergo a medical examination. It will check the condition of your blood vessels and determine which compression garment is right for you.
It is divided into 3 main types:
- stockings
- Tights
- Knee socks
The choice of knitwear depends on the location of the diseased veins, your lifestyle and other factors.
We will talk further 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. It is mainly used in the early stages of the disease. The socks against varicose veins tightly wrap the legs and press on the walls of the blood vessels, improving blood circulation. They also:
- Prevents the formation of blood clots
- Relieves swelling
- Relieves pain after standing for a long time
- Protects from varicose veins
During pregnancy, knitted stockings are also used for the treatment of varicose veins. When carrying a baby, the vessels in the body of women are exposed to great stress and often swell. Therefore, for the 2-3 trimester, doctors advise pregnant women to wear this underwear.
Compression stockings are versatile. They also help varicose veins above the knee, but are more comfortable to wear than tights.
Compression tights
This type of jersey completely covers the legs from the toes to the waist. Tights with varicose veins do not slip when walking and are comfortable to wear. However, you must remember that you will have to take them off 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 blood vessel problems have spread over the hips, varicose vein tights will help better than stockings or knee-highs. Their functions:
- Improve blood circulation
- Leg muscle massage
- Support of the venous wall
- Elimination of excess lymphatic fluid
Compression tights are used for the prevention and treatment of varicose veins. They are also prescribed for recovery from leg surgery.
Compression knee-highs
Socks for varicose veins are prescribed for people with diseased veins in the lower legs. If problems with blood vessels under the knees have occurred, such underwear will help you.
They don't restrict movement. Therefore, in golf you can practice or walk. Many people take them with them on their travels.
This underwear performs the following functions:
- It constricts the blood vessels
- Strengthens the venous walls
- Removes edema
Socks against varicose veins are comfortable to wear under clothing. If necessary, they can be quickly removed, for example, during an examination by a doctor.
Remember: the effectiveness of knitwear depends on how much it presses on the legs. These are the so-called compression classes. We will talk about this further.
Classes of knitwear against varicose veins
The compression class of linen is measured in millimeters of mercury or mmHg. Art. As we have already said, the pressure is maximum in the feet. Decreases from bottom to top. Therefore, the top of the shirt puts almost no pressure on the legs.
There are 4 compression classes:
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 grade: Pressure from 23 to 32 mmHg. Art. It is prescribed for the treatment of 2nd degree varicose veins and thrombophlebitis. Put it on and your ulcers will heal faster.
3rd grade: Pressure from 33 to 45 mmHg. Art. Doctors prescribe this underwear to patients with trophic disorders and venous insufficiency.
4th degree: Pressure from 46 to 50 mmHg. Art. Such knitwear helps fight lymphostasis and edema in case of complications of varicose veins. Often prescribed after operations.
You can buy knitwear for prevention yourself, without consulting a phlebologist. It doesn't squeeze your legs too tight and won't hurt. But underwear from classes 2-4 should only be chosen by a doctor.
How to choose compression garments to avoid varicose veins
If you are planning to buy varicose vein prevention knitwear, start by taking a measurement. When you wake up, don't get out of bed. Immediately measure the circumference of the calf, thigh and ankle. You also need to know the length of the foot and leg. When buying underwear, these measures will come in handy.
Choose knee-highs, stockings or tights based on the location of the problematic veins. If they are below the knees, the knee socks fit you well. To stop the development of varicose veins in the upper legs, buy anti-varicose stockings or tights.
Pay attention to the fabric of the knitwear. 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 socks, tights or knee-highs that are right for you.
Post-operative care: how much to wear knitwear after treatment
If you have late stage varicose veins and have undergone a vascular operation, then for full recovery you need to wear special underwear. The phlebologist will tell you how long you need to walk in it.
Don't break the knitting routine.
Remember, the doctor prescribed this underwear for you for a reason. The effectiveness of the treatment directly depends on whether or not you are wearing knitwear.
Imagine that you have decided to do without the pantyhose that made you nervous for just one day. It would appear to be fine.
But this is not the case.
The shirt closes the wound left after the operation. Prevents the ingress of air and prevents blood poisoning. In addition, the underwear protects the blood vessels from the formation of blood clots.
Don't put your health at risk. You have already performed the operation and now a full recovery is not dependent on the doctor. Take a few months and you can return to a fulfilling life with healthy veins.
The phlebologist decides how long the shirt is to be worn. You can't take off your clothes for a long time 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 must be covered with an elastic jersey. It has been shown to reduce intradermal bleeding and pain. In addition, the 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 knitwear is usually assigned, but it is useless to use it further. Class 1 linen is sufficient to support ships.
After sclerotherapy
The period of use of compression stockings depends on the number of vessels treated. For example, if a doctor has cured 1-2 veins, then you need to wear stockings or pantyhose only for 3-4 months. During this time, new healthy vessels will appear.
If the phlebologist has cured 5-6 veins, it will take longer to walk in class 2 knitwear, up to 6 months. Then the doctor will carry out 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 preventive jersey if you have any of these markings:
- Excess weight
- Pregnancy
- Vascular asterisks
- Strong loads on the legs
- Passive lifestyle
- Diabetes
- Predisposition to vascular diseases
With obesity, elastic stockings from varicose veins help you lose weight faster. They remove excess fluids, smooth the folds of fat and tone the skin.
For pregnant women, underwear helps support the abdominal muscles. This prevents many problems, such as prolapse of the uterus.
Who is contraindicated to wear compression stockings
Unfortunately, not everyone can benefit from the advantages of special underwear. In some diseases, this is dangerous. Here is a list:
- Severe angiopathy and diabetic polyneuropathy
- Trophic ulcers not associated with vascular disease
- Acute soft tissue infection
- Cardiopulmonary insufficiency
- Septic phlebitis
Another treatment of varicose veins with stockings is contraindicated for people with chronic diseases of the arteries of the legs, if the upper pressure has dropped below 80 mm Hg. Art.
Extend the life of knitwear - rules of care
If you want compression underwear for varicose veins to serve you until you recover, you need to take proper care of it. For example, it needs to be washed every day.
You might ask, "Why, why not dirt? ".
Even so, dust accumulates on the socks throughout the day. In addition, dead skin cells are deposited on them. So you can't do without washing.
Use baby soap or other products for delicate fabrics. Hand wash your laundry.
But what you can't do with it:
- To boil
- Squeeze
- Dry on a horizontal surface
This will damage the socks and render them useless for treatment.
By observing these simple rules, you will be able to use a shirt until your recovery.
If you've read this far, you may have learned a lot about compression garments. It remains for us to say where you will be helped to choose it.
Doctors quickly diagnose and select 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. It is advisable to make an appointment with a specialized clinic.
The doctor will review the medical history and conduct an examination. Then he will carry out ultrasound diagnostics - he will show the diseased vessels in great detail.
After making the diagnosis, your doctor will determine if you need knitwear, 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 consult a phlebologist at the medical center.