Compression Therapy Tips for Varicose Veins
You would most likely have come across these webs of swollen, dark interwoven veins on some senior citizens’ legs or calf or probably on yours too. Does the word varicose veins ring any bell to you? Would they seem like something to describe these angry-looking venous welts on your skin?
Well! You could be right. Sit back and have some coffee because if you read this article to the end, you will learn in the most factual manner what varicose veins are, their causes, how compression therapy works and tips on how to maximally benefit from compression therapy.
What are Varicose Veins
According to MedicalnewsToday.com, varicose veins are highly visible veins that usually show beneath the surface of the skin. This condition occurs when blood collects behind small valves in a person’s veins instead of flowing upwards towards the heart. They usually look blue, twisted, swollen and are very painful and discomforting. It might be fascinating to note that varicose veins are different from spider veins. They both share some similarities, but spider veins can be red or purple and can appear on other parts of the body like the face. Varicose veins are almost always found in the lower extremities of the body, while spider veins can be found anywhere, sometimes even on the face.
Varicose veins are a symptom of a larger problem known as venous insufficiency. The way veins work is that they are biologically engineered by Nature to take blood back to the heart. To do this effectively, the veins are equipped with bio-valves that fight gravity and stop the blood from flowing away from the heart. Be that awesome as it may sound, these valves sometimes malfunction and stop working properly.
When this happens, just like any other working part of the human body malfunctions, disaster is never far away. Firstly, blood no longer flows back to the heart as it should, and it begins to collect behind the valves. Overtime when this blood collects, it begins to clot and thickens. And as time progresses, coupled with the regular wear and tear of day-to-day working operations of the body, the veins begin to bulge and get swollen as this clotted and thickened collected blood persists and accumulates. And that is how you notice the blue, bulging veins from under your skin and how you notice the discomfort and how unsightly they are when you look at them. Some of the symptoms of varicose veins include:
- Itching around one or more of your veins
- Feelings of heaviness in the legs
- Recurrent muscle cramps, burning sensations and swelling in the lower legs
- Exacerbated pain after extended periods of sitting or standing
- Discoloration around a blood vessel.
How To Know When To See A Doctor?
Although home treatments like physical exercise, elevating your legs, so they are parallel to your heart and compression therapy can help you alleviate the discomfort that varicose veins cause, these treatments on their own will not help in the long-term. When the symptoms get worse, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
What are the risk factors that increase the risk of developing varicose veins?
- Family history: If a number of your family members have varicose veins, it increases your chances of having the condition.
- Obesity or excessive weight gain: suddenly gaining a lot of weight increases pressure on your veins.
- Standing or sitting for extended periods
- Pregnancy: When a lady is pregnant, there is added weight in her body and increased blood volume to support the development of the fetus in her. However, the side effect is that the pressure on her blood vessels increases and enlarges the veins in her legs.
- Age: As we age, there is continuous wear and tear on our body parts, and the veins are a very significant aspect of these. The blood valves in the veins depreciate, and this weakens the valves. As a result, they cannot send the volume of blood up to the heart like they used to. The remaining builds up in the vein where it causes varicose.
Tips To Manage Varicose Veins
Fortunately, several procedures have been invented to manage and alleviate the discomfort that varicose veins pose. Compression therapy is one of the most effective treatments used to manage varicose veins. Compression therapy largely consists of putting on compression socks or stockings which may or may not have been prescribed by a medical doctor on the legs. These socks tighten at the ankle and reduce in tightness as they go further up to the calf and thighs. They work by supporting the veins and direct the flow of blood back towards the heart and help the valves work more efficiently to block the backflow of blood and eliminate buildup.
It is important to note that to get the optimal benefits out of compression therapy, you need to get a stocking that deeply compresses the swollen veins in order to relax the pressure on them and push the blood towards the heart while pushing the veins back into the venous system. This will drastically reduce the swelling.
The pressure the compression stocking exerts on the ankle must be higher than the pressure it exerts on the calves and thighs, respectively. The amount of pressure needed is in direct proportion to the severity of the condition. There are numerous types of compression socks available, albeit to know what’s best for your condition, you need to consult a doctor. This is because compression therapy stockings have graduated pressure levels, and using the wrong one would not alleviate your discomfort but likely to aggravate it. The graduation levels of compression therapy stockings are classified thus: 14-20mmHg (medium), 20-30 mmHg (firm), 30-50 mmHg (extra firm). However, if you’re not diagnosed with Varicose Veins, the 8-14mmHg (mild) stocking could be used to prevent it.
Tips For Selecting The Best Compression Therapy Stockings
1. Choose your length: the locations of your varicose veins on your legs determine the length of your compression stockings. If the varicose veins are in the calves, then knee-high stockings will be ideal. If they’re located in the knee or thigh, then thigh-highs are good. The higher the varicose is, the longer your stocking should be.
2. Get the right size: When you’ve got the ideal length for your stocking, getting the right size should follow. To do this, you’ll need to measure the circumference of your ankle, calf and thigh, depending on the length of the stocking you’re looking at. Check out the size charts of the brand you want to purchase, as sizes can differ. Make sure it is the right graduation of pressure that you need.
3. Select your perfect style: There is a range of styles and types of stockings to choose from. Ranging from open-toes, inspection toes, footless, patterned, black, opaque, polka-dotted, there is just so much for you to select from.
4. Consider using donning assistance: quite a number of people struggle with putting on compression stockings, especially if they’ve not worn one before. Using a donning assistant such as a donner can help you easily hold the stocking in place and open for you to wear it easily. Using talcum powder on your skin before wearing the stocking makes it easier to wear.
Conclusion
You should try to look out for yourself as much as possible and consult your doctor at the earliest symptom of varicose veins. As soon as you suspect you’re suffering from varicose veins, schedule an appointment today with the cardio-vascular specialist of South Florida.
