Deng Tingzhi, attending physician of the Department of Geriatrics, Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital
Many elderly people and people who have been standing for a long time and sedentary occupations suffer from varicose veins, and doctors usually recommend conservative treatment with elastic stockings. Medical compression stockings use the method of gradually reducing pressure upwards from the ankle to return venous blood flow in the lower extremities and improve the pressure on the veins and venous valves of the lower extremities. However, there are many types of compression stockings on the market, and we should clarify several questions before purchasing.
1. How to choose the right compression stockings for yourself?
Compression stockings are available in 3 pressures: low, medium and high, 2 basic lengths, and 27 different sizes. Before buying, you should measure the size of the legs, including the circumference of the ankle, the thickest circumference of the calf belly, and the maximum circumference of the thigh, to determine the appropriate compression pressure and length.
2. Which pressure should I choose?
According to the pressure, elastic stockings have low pressure prevention type, primary medium pressure treatment type, secondary high pressure treatment type, and third level high pressure treatment type. Low pressure prevention type is suitable for daily health care of bedridden patients, varicose veins and people with high incidence of thrombosis; The first-class medium pressure treatment type is suitable for the prevention and treatment of superficial varicose veins and thrombosis; Secondary and tertiary hypertension treatment types are used after saphenous vein peeling, after variceal sclerotherapy, and severe varicose veins.
3. How to choose thin thickness?
Elastic socks are available in two thicknesses, thin and ordinary, thin type mainly in summer, spring, summer, autumn and winter can be worn, comfortable type slightly thicker, suitable for use in winter. Compression stockings of the same pressure, no matter how thin or thick, the effect is the same.
4. What is the difference between calf protection and Zhongtong socks?
After the elastic stockings to protect the calf are put on, the length is about 20 cm, which can cover a part of the middle of the calf, generally protecting the veins of the lower limbs during strenuous exercise in patients with varicose veins, and it is more convenient to use during exercise. The compression stockings have the greatest pressure at the ankle, which can better help the venous blood return of the lower extremities.
5. Only one leg has symptoms, wear one or a pair?
It is recommended to wear a pair, so that both legs feel the same and have a positive health prevention effect on the other leg; Two socks can also be worn on one leg alternately, because elastic stockings need to be washed and dried by hand, not baked and sunburned, and the two are worn in rotation to facilitate changing and prolong the service life.
6. How long does it take to wear it to see results?
Insist on wearing it for more than 8 hours a day, wear it before getting up in the morning and going to the ground, and take it off before going to bed at night, which can relieve symptoms such as swelling, fatigue, numbness, swelling and pain in the lower limbs. Patients with long-term swelling of the lower limbs, leg swelling will gradually disappear after wearing for more than 1 month; For ulcer patients, after wearing for more than 2 months, ulcers with a diameter of less than 1 cm will gradually heal, and insist on wearing veins that can gradually smooth the protruding veins, so that the darkened and hardened skin gradually improves. As varicose vein symptoms decrease, the timing and frequency of wear can be reduced.