Compression knits are widely used to maintain physiologically correct pressure in a person's lower extremities. Such socks are used in the complex treatment of varicose veins, as well as to prevent this disease. In medicine, special underwear for the veins is called a medical vest. It is also known as compression underwear or anti-varicose, medical vest.
Vein specialists recommend wearing tights, stockings as well as knee high socks to prevent varicose veins. Such underwear should also be worn in cases of thrombosis, thrombophlebitis, lymphedema and other problems with blood vessels in the extremities.
Which type of compression underwear is better, which is better - tights or compression stockings, your doctor will tell you and recommend during your appointment.
The therapeutic effect when using such underwear is shown because socks, tights or tights have the effect of supporting the vessels, compressing the varicose veins. This, in turn, evenly redistributes blood flow from dilated vessels to healthy vessels.
Such underwear helps to activate blood circulation, improving tissue nutrition.
Choosing the right compression knitwear can help reduce the risk of blood clots forming.
Another important argument in favor of underwear is that there are virtually no contraindications to the use of medical knitwear. It does not cause side effects but at the same time is a good method to prevent the progression of varicose veins and helps to maintain the veins in a physiological state.
How do compression garments work for varicose veins?
Before that, when medical knitted clothing was not yet manufactured, elastic bandages were used for varicose veins. However, their use has some significant disadvantages.
- First of all, elastic banding has to be done for a long time, and to get the desired effect it has to be done correctly.
- An important drawback is that it is not possible to wear an elastic band all the time. An aesthetic appearance does not allow to wear it every day, while, for example, compression underwear and knitwear from other modern manufacturers look very beautiful and aesthetically pleasing.
- Despite the fact that the bandages have a low price, it will not be possible to save money wearing them. After all, such a tape very quickly becomes unusable. Therefore, it is better to learn how to choose high-quality knitwear and buy compression underwear for people with varicose veins.
What is compression underwear for and what are its effects? Compressing varicose veins, this knit fabric speeds up blood circulation through the deep veins. As a result, the stagnation in the veins is eliminated, which is a prerequisite for the development of varicose veins. Those interested in which compression underwear is better for varicose veins should note that it is a high-quality product worth buying. After all, branded high-quality knitwear provides a gradual reduction in pressure from the wrist to the shoulder or from the shin to the thigh.
For example, one online store of good compression underwear for varicose veins offers socks that maximize (100%) pressure in the lower leg and partial (40%) in the thigh area. It is this distribution that is most correct from a physiological point of view and, therefore, provides the greatest therapeutic effect. With this mode of pressure distribution, the outflow of blood is normalized due to the following effect:
- The work of the valve apparatus improved and returned to normal.
- The lumen of the peripheral veins of the thigh and lower leg is dilated, especially the subcutaneous veins, reduced.
- Pumping efficiency is increased. When the muscles contract during exercise, blood is pushed upwards.
Effective compression underwear for pregnant women. But during pregnancy, you need to choose such shirts, guided by the individual recommendations of your doctor.
How to choose compression knitwear?
Before choosing compression knit fabric for varicose veins, it is important to understand that such underwear cannot eliminate serious causes of varicose veins. Therefore, it is used before radical treatment. The medical gown simulates the situation as if the veins were enlarged, removed or blocked.
In addition, it is important to understand that nonsurgical treatment of foot diseases should always be comprehensive. Only in this case will the effect be maximized. It is very important not only to wear compression underwear, but also to use ointments and creams prescribed by a doctor, practice folk remedies to prevent and treat varicose veins and also lead a healthy lifestyle. .
For the most noticeable effects, it is important that you choose the right underwear. In this case, one must take into account not only the readable reviews on the net and the price of linen, but also its quality, compression grades.
Compression knitting is generally divided into three types:
- hospital - ie a hospital used exclusively within a hospital;
- Medical;
- preventive.
However, regardless of whether bras are necessary for treatment or prevention, they should be purchased exclusively in specialized stores or at stores that are authorized dealers of physician-approved underwear manufacturers. receive. It is important that in such stores the consumer is assisted in choosing the right size for the shirt, as the effectiveness of the treatment depends on this. To find the right underwear, the salesperson first measures the feet at four locations. Next, a special size chart is used, according to which socks or tights are selected.
You can buy underwear in four compressions:
- First-class compression(18-21 mm Hg) - spare shirt, wear is indicated in the following cases:
- during pregnancy;
- with a tendency to varicose veins;
- when there are early symptoms of venous insufficiency: if the veins under the skin are prominent, after standing or sitting for a long time, the legs are painful, you can clearly distinguish the spider veins in the legs, and the edema appears. show in the evening;
- if a person has a lifestyle that requires a lot of sitting or standing - in an office, driving a car, sitting behind a counter, etc. v.
- Second layer of compression(23-32 mm Hg) - the most common underwear. 2nd Compression Metal Woven Compression is used to treat varicose veins, thrombophlebitis. The hospital also uses hospital grade 2 knitted garments.
- Third layer of compression(34-46 mm Hg) - compression pants of this type are used for patients with nutritional disorders and severe venous insufficiency.
- Fourth compression layer(from 49 mm Hg) - this class is used very rarely - for men and women with lymphedema.
Before buying socks or tights for varicose veins, you should decide exactly which underwear is better to buy. Those who are buying anti-varicose socks for the first time should not immediately choose the second type of compression. After all, this will most likely be too strong a compression for the vascular system.
First, it's better to buy cheap underwear - the price of class 1 tights from some companies will be quite acceptable. After putting on and getting used to such panties, you can later buy more expensive orthopedic tights for varicose veins.
For prophylactic purposes, only class 1 underwear is used. If a person is suffering from varicose veins, the phlebologist will help you choose tights. You should also ask your doctor about how to choose compression stockings for pregnant women so that the expectant mother feels comfortable wearing such underwear. In this case, it is important to choose the size of tights or anti-varicose socks so that they do not cause discomfort.
But no matter how enthusiastic the reviews about this or that underwear, you need to understand that it will not cure varicose veins when wearing underwear does not eliminate the cause of the disease. . Compression knit fabric helps prevent the development of diseases and prevents the appearance of new varicose veins.
In hot summer weather, it is impossible to wear such undergarments, so in the summer you need to use drugs for varicose veins and use other methods to combat the disease.
In order not to damage the product and get the most out of it, you need to know how to properly wear compression stockings - this is outlined in the instructions.
Regardless of the price of such linen, it can hold compression for about 5-7 months.
What do you need to know when buying compression socks?
Before buying such underwear, you need to clearly know how to choose the right compression stockings for varicose veins. Specific quality standards have been defined for compression garments. The most important and strict of them is the European RAL-GZ-387.
Any manufacturer that seeks to produce knitwear that is suitable for it, must initially undergo very strict certification in Switzerland or Germany. So, if the elastic orthopedic stocking for varicose veins has such a certificate, this indicates its high quality. Such certified knitwear provides pressure distribution on the extremities (40-70-100%) and is curative. This standard is justified by the packaging of the product, as well as the presence of a special label.
To choose a good product, you need to focus not only on how high the knee socks cost, but first of all, the manufacturer and the proven selling point. Indeed, in the domestic market, it is easy to make a mistake and buy fake medical socks. In addition, in specialized stores, buyers are sure to be guided on how to determine the size, for both men and women. In trusted stores, you need to buy compression knitwear for pregnant women.
Since lingerie is worn every day, it's important to choose a hypoallergenic model. Therefore, you need to focus not on user reviews but on personal feelings first. The Oeko-Tex Standard 10 mark of the European eco-friendly standard must be on linen - this ensures that the product is made of hypoallergenic material.
How to wear compression stockings properly?
When buying lingerie, you need to know how to wear it and how to wear it correctly.
Typically, those seeking to prevent the progression of varicose veins will wear Type 2 compression stockings. After all, both the effectiveness and cost of Class 2 compression stockings are most commonly accepted by patients. However, it often happens that products in the 2nd degree of compression cause discomfort to the wearer. Furthermore, most 2nd compression classes for men and women are often inconvenient because a person is not wearing such a product correctly. After all, it can't be worn like pantyhose for a child, bundled up in an accordion and pulled up to the thigh sock. Both tights and knee-length stockings or stockings should be worn slowly, gradually stretching over the legs.
Such bras will be difficult for people with belly fat to wear. To facilitate this process, you can purchase special tools at the store. How much such devices cost depends on the manufacturer. Compression knitted clothing should be worn with gloves so as not to damage the linen with a fingernail. Also, if a person is wearing medical or other gloves, linen slides better.
If the underwear of the second compression layer is not comfortable to wear, in some cases you can limit yourself to the first layer. Furthermore, the price of class 1 compression stockings for women and men is lower. However, the price of leg socks to treat varicose veins depends on other factors.
A person wearing medical clothing must have smooth feet - not rough, calloused. Cut your toenails short and file them to prevent them from drying out during washing.
It is better to wear such underwear in the morning, when you are rested and, therefore, the limbs do not swell. In this case, both the feet and the jersey must be completely dry.
For those who are interested in whether it is possible to sleep in such socks, you need to understand that it is not necessary to do so, since during sleep the load on the limbs is very little.
If the phlebologist assigns the patient to wear category 3 products, it will be more difficult to put them on and, therefore, more time will be spent on this. For this, it is better to use special devices.
If the size chart provided on a particular website doesn't seem clear, you're better off asking your specialist about how to choose the size of compression stockings for surgery or for everyday wear. After all, if you choose the wrong size, it will be extremely inconvenient to wear such underwear at the same time.
It is important to properly care for these items and know how to wash and dry them.
Compression Garments Care
When buying orthopedic underwear for women and men, you need to consider that it is most convenient to have at least two pairs of such shirts. After all, you need to wash it daily to remove dust, debris, and dead skin particles that can quickly damage the fibers of your laundry.
Laundry should be done by hand only, using baby soap. Such linen cannot be washed in a typewriter. You need to wash at a temperature not exceeding 40 ° C. Ironing and bleaching are prohibited. Also, don't use conditioner and conditioner. After all, they also destroy the structure of the spasmodic tissue.
Dry the compressed knitwear by spreading it out on a horizontal surface. You can't twist and wring it out, you can easily get the towel wet. Do not expose the shirt to the sun, leave the battery in an upright position.
You need to be very careful with the silicone bands, they are very important to hold the laundry in place. During washing, it is better not to get them wet and wipe them with a disinfecting napkin.
What to wear with such products depends on the preferences of the woman. However, as a rule, knitwear from modern manufacturers is very beautiful and elegant.
Contraindications to wearing compression underwear
Before choosing a compression pillow for varicose veins, you need to find out if the patient has contraindications to wearing it. Medical coats have a number of such contraindications.
There are categorical contraindications, as well as relative contraindications, in which it is permissible to wear such a coat after consulting a doctor - a cardiologist, a dermatologist, an endocrinologist.
Wearing a medical gown is absolutely contraindicated for diseases such as:
- atherosclerosis;
- endometritis;
- spondylitis;
- thromboembolic inflammation.
Under such conditions, the lumen decreases, and the systolic blood pressure drops to 80 mm. rt. Art. , Therefore, it is strictly forbidden to relieve pressure in the lower extremities.
Compression clothing should be worn with great care for people with skin problems and high skin sensitivity.
You should not wear socks or tights because of allergic manifestations and inflammatory processes on the skin, as well as for inflammatory skin diseases, sores, eczema, thrombophlebitis, open wounds.
If varicose veins are the result of diabetes, you should also not use such underwear. Compression knitted fabrics are not used in case of infectious phlebitis, severe cardiopulmonary failure, if circulatory problems are manifested at rest.
You may also find that the jersey can atrophy the muscular layer of the vein wall. When a person stops wearing underwear, the opposite effect will result, the vein walls will stretch, and the varicose veins will progress more.
Of course, there is no way to check the condition of each vein in a person wearing such underwear. However, most phlebologists consider this theory to be false, citing the following evidence in support of this:
- a person who cannot wear a medical gown around the clock;
- if the veins are compressed, then the blood flow in them decreases, but it does not stop;
- As a rule, muscle wall atrophy develops if a person has a genetic predisposition, as well as if a locally specific inflammatory process develops with venous stasis, and when knitwear is used, these phenomena are reduced. ;
- sometimes, after stopping the use of linen, a person feels a little worse at first, because for a while the sound of the vein walls decreases, but we are not talking about atrophy.
In addition, after the period of wearing such underwear, the person with varicose veins may find it more difficult to walk. So many people choose not to give up wearing it.
Therefore, compression garment, which has been used for decades, is a convenient and effective method for the prevention and treatment of varicose veins. However, before you start using it, you need to consult a doctor. The doctor will determine how the patient's condition is and will help choose the most suitable product.