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Preparing for Changes
During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through many changes, including an increase in blood volume and fluid; this fluid can remain in the interstitial spaces of the tissues, which may cause swelling, often in the legs, ankles and feet.
Pregnancy and Varicose Veins
Hormonal changes and weight-gain are two factors that contribute to the increased development of varicosities during pregnancy. Many times varicose veins will show up during the pregnancy and disappear soon after the baby is born.
Using Compression Therapy
Support Sock Shop maternity graduated compression stockings are specially designed to expand with you during pregnancy, so there is no restriction in the abdominal region.
Worn during the day, these compression stockings counteract swelling and protect against varicose veins by applying a light, soothing pressure to the exterior portion of the legs, which helps prevent fluid from accumulating.
If you’re pregnant and are experiencing tired, aching legs, or excessive swelling in the lower legs and ankles, ask your primary care provider about wearing maternity graduated compression stockings.
DVT/Travel
| DVT Prevention
Are you a frequent traveler? Flying long distances? Recent sugery or injury has prevented mobility. If so, you should know about Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that forms in the “deep” larger veins, usually in the legs. If the clot dislodges from the vein wall and becomes mobile, it will move through the venous system, and eventually, could block a vein of the heart, brain or lungs.
Who is at risk for DVT?
At risk are people who fly, sit or stand for long periods of time. Other contributing factors are: smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, being overweight, recent surgery injury with long periods of immobility or diagnosed vein disease.
How can I tell if I have DVT?
Unfortunately, DVT is a difficult condition to detect, and is often symptomless. If symptoms occur, they may include intense pain or cramping in the calves, tenderness, swelling, warmth or changes in skin color.
Using Compression Therapy
An effective way to keep your legs healthy during long periods of being immobile such as air travel, injury or after surgery is wearing graduated compression stocking. Compression stockings and socks exert a comfortable pressure on the outside of the leg to support the veins and vein valves. If you think you are at risk for a DVT, consult your primary care provider.
Leg Health
Healthy Legs
Many factors contribute to the overall health of our legs: heredity, weight, age, diet and activity level. But it’s the internal function of the legs that also plays an important role: calf muscles, arteries, veins, and vein valves – the internal highway of blood and oxygen flow.
Your Circulation
The flow of blood in the veins is assisted by a series of one-way valves. The valves remain open when the blood flows toward the heart, and then closed after blood passes through. Over time, an increase in pressure can stretch the vein walls. If a vein becomes enlarged and over-stretched the valves cannot close properly, causing blood to leak back down into the lower legs, resulting in poor circulation.
If this happens you may begin to develop symptoms, such as:
- Heavy, tired, aching legs
- Swollen legs and/or ankles
- Sensation of warmth in the legs
- Tingling or cramping of the legs
- Dull or sharp pain in the calf
- Small varicose veins and spider veins
Using Compression Therapy
Graduated compression stockings and socks are important to leg health. They help minimize muscle aches, swelling, and symptoms of fatigue. Exercise and a healthy lifestyle will strengthen your legs, but wearing graduated compression stockings or socks will support the internal function of the veins.
If you notice one or more of the symptoms mentioned above, we recommend that you consult with your primary care provider and ask about graduated compression stockings and socks. You’ll be glad that you did—and so will your legs!
Lymphedema
| What is lymphedema?
Lymphedema is a highly under-diagnosed condition that affects the lymphatic vessels, which are responsible for transporting protein-rich lymph fluid back into the circulatory system. When lymph vessels are unable to transport this fluid properly, a build-up occurs, resulting in swelling and the thickening of the skin.
Who is at risk?
If you have had a mastectomy, lumpectomy, radiation treatment, lymph node removal, surgeries, infections, or trauma to the limbs, you may be at risk for developing lymphedema.
How can I tell if I have lymphedema?
A common indicator of lymphedema is indentations that do not immediately disappear after the skin has been depressed by the hand or fingers. This condition is usually found in the legs and arms; however, lymphedema can affect any region of the body. Many people with lymphedema are labeled over-weight, yet lymphedema is not about fat storage.
Using Compression Therapy
Although there is no cure, lymphedema can be managed. Wearing compression garments is one of the most important aspects of managing lymphedema. Compression garments are designed to keep a continuous pressure on the swollen/affected area to assist the drainage of fluid and minimize swelling.
If you’re concerned that you may have lymphedema, consult a trained MLD therapist or your primary care provider for a proper evaluation.
This patient education resource provides answers to many common questions about venous disease and compression therapy.
• Do I need to see a specialist to determine if I have venous disease?
Not all physicians are experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of venous disease. Certainly, if you have any one of the warning signs, see your doctor as soon as possible. If you feel you may have more serious or advanced vein problems, you may want to see a specialist. Contact your health care provider for physician referral. Or, if you prefer, you can get a list of doctors in your area who treat vein disease right here.
• Can vein disease be prevented?
There's only one real way to prevent venous disease. Be aware of your personal risks, identify any early warning signs and wear compression therapy stockings at the first sign of any problems.
• Is there a cure for vein disease?
There's no cure for venous disease. It's a chronic condition that, left untreated, worsens over time. There are treatment options that address the symptoms of venous disease, perhaps even stop its progression. But, the fact is, a damaged vein can't fix or heal itself. That's why it's important that vein problems are diagnosed and treated immediately.
• What is graduated compression and why is it so important?
Graduated compression puts the strongest pressure where the veins are weakest. Simply because of gravity, that's usually the ankles. That's where the greatest swelling occurs. And the single most important component in the treatment of venous disease is the reduction of swelling.
• Are these like the stockings my great-grandmother used to wear?
Not at all. Today's compression stockings are sheer, lightweight and barely distinguishable from regular fashion stockings.
• How will I feel in compression stockings?
The first thing you'll notice is reduced swelling and virtually no pain. Of course, like any new therapy, they may take some getting used to, but you'll have more energy and feel better almost immediately.
• Are your stockings latex-free? How about cotton-free?
Yes to both questions. Concerning latex-free, medi understands the significant risk associated with putting products that contain latex, directly on the skin. The risk of having an adverse allergic reaction with latex is therefore eliminated. As for cotton-free, medi believes strongly in non-cotton, breathable products that contain anti-microbial properties. Just look at high-end sports apparel being sold today, no cotton.
• How do graduated compression therapy stockings work?
Medically accurate graduated compression therapy stockings push dilated vein walls back into place, enabling veins to close properly and function more efficiently. The result is increased blood flow which, in turn, significantly reduces leg swelling, pain, fatigue and the risk of blood clot formation.
• Why are medical stockings sold by prescription only?
Because medical compression stockings are designed to provide exact compression, the correct fit is critical. Exact compression means that pressure is distributed in a graduated manner up the leg, maximizing blood flow from the leg veins back to the heart. Only a professional fitter can ensure accurate measurement of your legs and, therefore, the right stockings for your individual needs, and every Mediven retailer is a professional fitter.
Medical compression stockings are to be worn only as prescribed by your physician and are not recommended for patients with severe arterial insufficiency.
• Are medical stockings expensive? How long do they last?
A doctor-prescribed medical device designed to stop the progression of a serious disease, medical compression stockings cost more than regular stockings. mediven stockings, however, come with a six-month compression guarantee. That makes them a better value than other stockings. Check with your doctor to see if mediven medical compression stockings are covered by your health insurance.
• How do Mediven compression stockings compare to anti-embolism stockings?
White anti-embolism stockings are given out in hospitals. They're specifically designed for patients who are lying down. While they provide slight compression along the leg, they do not provide the prescription graduated compression that's so important for fighting vein disease when you are up and about and leading a normal life.
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