Stocking Up on Varicose Vein Prevention

For most women over the age of 30, the idea of wearing "support hose" is not a new concept. Girls have long been raised to dread the appearance of varicose veins in their legs. They were told by their mothers and grandmothers that varicose veins could be prevented by not standing still for long periods of time, by not crossing legs when sitting, and by wearing tight-fitting leg socks or hosiery. Well, our grandmother's did (and do!) know what they were talking about. Both exercise and wearing support hose are key ingredients in the prevention of varicose veins. In addition, although women may be more self-conscious of varicose veins, men also develop varicosities; in fact, it is estimated that up to 60 percent of all adults will develop varicose veins at some point in their life.

Varicose veins are engorged gnarled veins. "Varicose" comes from the Latin word varix-, which means twisted. Any vein in the body can become varicosed, but the veins in the legs and feet are most frequently affected because of the increased pressure in the lower extremities when standing and walking. Veins compress when the muscles around them flex, which stimulates blood movement and prevents blood pooling. Standing in one place for a long period of time, without leg muscle movement and flexion, increases the risk for development of varicose veins. Furthermore, deliberate external compression of the legs, such as from an elastic wrap or a compression stocking, also prevents pooling of blood and can prevent and treat varicose veins. While varicose veins are not life-threatening, they can cause significant discomfort in the legs, and to many people they are also cosmetically unappealing. You should consider wearing support stockings if you find that your varicose veins prevent you from wearing the clothes you would like to wear, or if the aching discomfort in your legs disrupts your daily activities. Support-hose technology is much improved and more effective than ever before.

Support stockings work by exerting a certain amount of pressure external to the veins. Historically, support stockings were offered at one level of pressure (and in one color). Today, support stockings are available at four levels of pressure (and in any color!). The four levels are: mild, moderate, firm, and extra firm. Mild support is recommended for those with tired achy legs and mild varicose veins. Although labeled "mild," these hose still offer more than twice the support of regular department store support stockings! Moderate compression is for those who are limited in their regular activities due to tired achy legs. Firm compression is for those with severe varicose veins and foot and leg swelling. Extra firm compression is usually reserved for those who have found that lower levels of support do not work. In order for compression stocking to be most effective, they must fit properly. Depending on the preferred style of compression stockings (knee-high, thighhigh, or pantyhose), measurements must be taken at the smallest part of the ankle, the largest part of the calf, and the fullest part of the thigh. In addition, the height of the calf and the entire leg must be measured. Measurements should be taken early in the morning before swelling builds up in the leg.

Today's support stockings are designed to provide gradient pressure to the calf and thigh. This means that they are tightest at the ankle, and slowly decrease in pressure toward the top of the stocking. As a result, the stocking will not restrict blood flow, particularly if they fit correctly. If your doctor has recommended that you wear support stockings, he/she will give you a recommendation on how long to wear them each day. In addition, if you want your insurance to cover the cost of the stocking, your physician can give you a prescription. Not all health insurance policies cover stockings. However, support stockings have been approved for over-the-counter sales, so you can purchase them without a prescription. Those who purchase compression stockings should plan to wear them whenever they are out of bed (usually about 16 hours/day), and they should be replaced every six months. For more information regarding varicose veins, visit our Web site at www.vdf.org.

About the author: Sharon K. Christman, RN, is an Associate Professor of Nursing at Cedarville University located in Cedarville, Ohio.