This week, we will discuss how to prevent one of the most common and most deadly vascular health attacks in the world – known as Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) within the medical community. Deep Vein Thrombosis occurs at the height of a blood clot formation in your body. Blood clots most often form in the legs and can form over a long period of time without any symptoms or warning signs.
Surprisingly, blood clots are one of the most preventable types of blood conditions that exist.
Often, people who have a blood clot don’t experience any symptoms until a DVT attack occurs as a result of the blood clot reaching a climax in size and blockage of the vein. DVT attacks can be deadly and can also lead to a fatal Pulmonary Embolism (PE) if part of the blood clot breaks off and travels to the lungs or heart.
In this article, we will teach you one of the leading medical strategies for blood clot prevention, which is the wear of compression socks for people who are at high risk of forming a blood clot, especially if you have never had a blood clot before; there are many actions you can take to ensure it never happens! We will also publish future articles in this series that more specifically address treatment and future prevention for patients who have experienced DVT or a PE in the past, as well as future articles for other blood clot risk factors and additional prevention methods, so check back daily to www.physixgear.com/blogs/sport-and-wellness for updates!
Who should use compression stockings to prevent blood clotting and DVT?
If you fall into any one of the categories below, wearing thigh high compression socks on your legs during the day can work to increase blood flow and prevent a blood clot / DVT:
- You have to stand or sit for long periods of time at work
- You have just had certain major surgeries (check with your doctor)
- You can’t leave your bed or have limited mobility
- Pilots and Flight Attendants
- Nurses
- Anyone who has experienced heart failure or a blood clotting disorder
- Women using oral contraceptives (birth control) long term – especially if you have an office job or are not constantly moving throughout the day
- You have diabetes, are overweight, have high blood pressure, or high cholesterol (or especially if you have a combination of these!)
- Age-based factors – the risk of having a blood clot increases substantially after the age of 60, however even in your late 20’s and 30’s the risk will start to increase tremendously if you fall into one of the categories above (especially if you work in a job where you stand or sit for long periods of time)
Doctors highly recommend the use of compression stockings for the prevention of blood clots and DVT if you fall into one of the above categories.
Why should I wear thigh high compression socks? How do they prevent blood clots and DVT?
Blood clots are caused by the pooling of excess blood, which often occurs in the legs. Compression stockings work to pressurize the cardiovascular system in your legs; the increased pressurization causes your arteries to work less hard to pump blood from your heart to its destination, and more notably causes your veins to be able to return blood to your heart more effectively, which increases blood flow and decreases the pooling of excess blood, leading to drastically decreased risk for blood clots / DVT.
How do I use compression socks effectively to prevent blood clots? Which ones should I buy?
The bottom line is that you can wear thigh high compression socks from the time you wake up in the morning until the time you prepare to lay down to go to sleep at night, but you should take them off while asleep. All-day wear will give you the most relief from pain and swelling and will provide the maximum benefit to blood flow.
If you are struggling from pain and/or swelling in your legs, the best thing to do is to put the compression stockings on right away after you wake up--before you start walking around. This can help prevent swelling in your legs before it even begins. Of course, be sure to remove them when showering, bathing or swimming. These affordable compression stockings are available right here from Physix Gear, the highest-rated non-prescription best compression socks for women, men and nurses you will find!
Compression stockings at a compression rating of 20mmHg or less are very effective at preventing blood clots in people who fall into the categories above. If greater compression levels are required, your doctor will likely have already realized this need and may prescribe a compression hose of a higher compression level available by prescription only. These standard thigh high compression socks of 20mmHg or less are available here without a prescription.
You will be surprised how affordable they are and how great your legs feel when you wear them. Take the first step towards better cardiovascular health today!
If you are struggling with chronic body pain and swelling, or you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, you should consult your doctor right away and seek medical advisement related to your specific condition(s).
Be sure to bookmark this page and share it with anyone you know who may be at high risk for blood clots / DVT who could benefit from the wearing of compression stockings. Who knows—a simple share could end up saving a life, or changing a life!