You’ve noticed dark, swollen, unsightly veins forming in your lower legs, and you suspect that you might have varicose veins. You’ve heard that compression stockings can prevent their appearance or manage symptoms if you’ve already got varicose veins—but you haven’t worn compression garments before and don’t want to start. To help you out, we’ve put together the ultimate guide on compression therapy for varicose veins. Below, we’ll explain what varicose veins are, as well as causes and risk factors for developing them. Then we’ll explain when it’s a good idea to wear compression stockings for varicose veins and offer shopping and donning tips to help you choose the right pair. What Are Varicose Veins? If you have blue, twisted veins...
Diabetes is a serious condition that occurs when your blood glucose (a.k.a. blood sugar) is too high. It affects nearly a tenth of Americans: As of 2015, 30.3 million people in the United States, or 9.4 percent of the population, had diabetes. Over time, diabetes can lead to other complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye problems, dental disease, nerve damage and foot problems. Foot problems are especially common in diabetics, so we’ve put together a guide that offers our best tips for taking care of your feet if you have diabetes. Here are our seven best strategies: 1. Manage your diabetes with other lifestyle changes. Taking care of your feet without addressing the other symptoms of diabetes...
Summer is the season of picnics and pools—and also of swelling and poor circulation. This happens for several reasons: First of all, heat causes blood vessels to dilate (or widen), which increases the chances that blood will pool in the lower legs rather than keeping flowing. Hot weather also contributes to dehydration since you sweat so much, and your body tends to retain fluid (or swell) when you lose too much water. Since we’re heading into summer, we’ve rounded up six ways to improve circulation and manage swelling during even the hottest months. 1. Stay inside during the hottest hours. You’re most likely to get sunburned between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun is at its highest point...
With National Nurses Week coming up from May 6 through 12, 2019, now is the perfect time to show the nurse in your life how much you appreciate them. To help you celebrate the week, we offer seven gift ideas below that any nurse in your life will be thrilled to receive. 1. Leg Elevation Pillows Because they’re on their feet for hours at a time, nurses are at risk for swelling and bad circulation in their lower legs. This poor circulation can lead to other problems, including pain and achiness. Lying down at the end of a shift and elevating the legs properly for 15-20 minutes will help blood and other fluids drain towards the core and help...
Compression therapy has been around for thousands of years, but modern compression stockings as we think of them only emerged in the 1940s and 1950s, making them a relatively recent development. From ancient bandages to advanced compression technology, we are going to investigate how compression therapy has evolved over time before diving into compression therapy today. We also want to explain everything you need to know about popular compression garments and break down the five main levels of compression. History of Compression Therapy Like many medical devices, compression garments have their roots in ancient history. Physicians in ancient Rome and Egypt used bandages to wrap patients’ legs to bind and treat injuries. However, compression garments as we know them...
