Varicosis and Compression Stockings
Varicosis is a common condition, more found in women than men.
The condition is caused by blood vessels, or veins, becoming abnormally dilated due to a number of factors and most commonly found in the legs.
Due to being vein orientated, it is classed as a venous condition, and can be acutely painful depending on the condition and severity of the varicose vein.
Some issues leading to this condition can be from chronic systemic diseases, pregnancy, standing for prolonged periods of time such as factory production work where you are on your feet all day, or from just generally bad posture.
The condition can also be attributed to just generally the ageing process as the walls of the vein begin to deteriorate.
If you notice a swelling in superficial veins, then a visit to your doctor would be wise to see what prevention can be done before the condition deteriorates into varicosis.
Due to the veins being close to the surface of the skin, quite often you can notice them on others.
You may have seen women that have large snake like veins running down their lower legs that can appear lumpy or winding in a snake like fashion.
The varicosis process begins when the veins valves begin to fail.
As more blood is pumped from the heart through the body, more valves in the vein begin to fail causing a back up in pressure.
In between heart beats, there is a lowering of blood pressure causing gravity to want the blood to run to the legs.
Symptoms of varicose veins can be a burning or itching sensation in the leg, with more sever cases moving to skin discolouration and open sores near the ankles.
Varicose veins are so prevalent in our society that it is estimated that 15% of the American population have varicosis.
One of the most common solutions for varicose veins is compression stockings.
These stockings have a built in compression (hence their name) around the ankle part of the stocking, ensuring that when blood pools to the foot, that the compression of the stocking around the ankle disallows the blood to pool, and instead causes the blood to flow back up in the proper manner.
Similarly, Compression socks are recommended wearing if you are travelling long distances such as in an aeroplane, or a long bus or car trip, as they also ensure that blood does not pool, but moves back up the ankle and continues to circulate through the body.
For the elderly, compression stockings can be difficult to fit, however there are now stocking donners available on the market that make the process of wearing compression stockings properly a more manageable task, especially for those who live at home by them selves, and who are not in assisted care facilities.
The condition is caused by blood vessels, or veins, becoming abnormally dilated due to a number of factors and most commonly found in the legs.
Due to being vein orientated, it is classed as a venous condition, and can be acutely painful depending on the condition and severity of the varicose vein.
Some issues leading to this condition can be from chronic systemic diseases, pregnancy, standing for prolonged periods of time such as factory production work where you are on your feet all day, or from just generally bad posture.
The condition can also be attributed to just generally the ageing process as the walls of the vein begin to deteriorate.
If you notice a swelling in superficial veins, then a visit to your doctor would be wise to see what prevention can be done before the condition deteriorates into varicosis.
Due to the veins being close to the surface of the skin, quite often you can notice them on others.
You may have seen women that have large snake like veins running down their lower legs that can appear lumpy or winding in a snake like fashion.
The varicosis process begins when the veins valves begin to fail.
As more blood is pumped from the heart through the body, more valves in the vein begin to fail causing a back up in pressure.
In between heart beats, there is a lowering of blood pressure causing gravity to want the blood to run to the legs.
Symptoms of varicose veins can be a burning or itching sensation in the leg, with more sever cases moving to skin discolouration and open sores near the ankles.
Varicose veins are so prevalent in our society that it is estimated that 15% of the American population have varicosis.
One of the most common solutions for varicose veins is compression stockings.
These stockings have a built in compression (hence their name) around the ankle part of the stocking, ensuring that when blood pools to the foot, that the compression of the stocking around the ankle disallows the blood to pool, and instead causes the blood to flow back up in the proper manner.
Similarly, Compression socks are recommended wearing if you are travelling long distances such as in an aeroplane, or a long bus or car trip, as they also ensure that blood does not pool, but moves back up the ankle and continues to circulate through the body.
For the elderly, compression stockings can be difficult to fit, however there are now stocking donners available on the market that make the process of wearing compression stockings properly a more manageable task, especially for those who live at home by them selves, and who are not in assisted care facilities.