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Your legs routinely swell, and even become achy after you spend some time on your feet, and you want to put that spring back in your step. You’ve heard that compression stockings may be able to help, and you want to know more.
To shed some light, cardiologist Dr. James Kim and our team of heart health experts here at James Kim, MD, have pulled together a quick primer on the use of compression stockings to combat swelling in your lower legs.
Medically known as edema, swelling in your lower legs can crop up for any number of reasons, some of them perfectly benign.
For example, you’re on an airplane and you notice that your ankles are swollen. Or, you’re in your third trimester of pregnancy and you’re dealing with swollen lower legs. These are instances in which the swelling is temporary and will abate.
There are more serious reasons why swelling in your legs can develop, however, and they largely have to do with malfunctions in your blood vessels.
Perhaps you have chronic venous insufficiency, a condition in which the one-way valves in the veins in your legs weaken, allowing blood to spill backward and fluid to collect. Or perhaps your arterial vessels are blocked and circulation in your lower limbs is sluggish.
We mention all of these possibilities, both temporary and chronic, because compression stockings can play an advantageous role in all cases.
As the name suggests, compression stockings put pressure on your lower legs to encourage better circulation back up toward your heart. The veins in your legs have to fight both distance and gravity to deliver blood to your heart, and compression stockings provide a little extra support to tackle both hurdles.
Additionally, these stockings, when worn regularly, can help to:
Of course, the stockings are also designed to reduce the swelling in your lower legs.
If we decide that you can benefit from compression stockings, we guide you toward the right product.
Once you have your stockings, keep these tips in mind:
As well, if you develop any irritation, please let us know so we can find a better pair of compression stockings for you.
If you want to find out whether compression stockings can help with your leg swelling, please contact one of our locations in Chula Vista or National City, California, to set up a consultation.
