Varicose veins are caused by insufficient blood flow from the legs back up to the heart, which results in pooling of the blood in the lower leg and the formation of affected vessels. To help alleviate the condition, compression stockings may be used. These special stockings are designed to increase blood flow from the lower extremities to the heart, which in turn prevents blood pooling that often precedes the formation of varicose veins. Compression stockings can be used to prevent varicose veins from forming, or they may be prescribed to minimize painful symptoms. Compression stockings can effectively reduce swelling and feelings of heaviness, and may stop the disease from progressing.
Compression stockings do not effectively eliminate varicose veins once they form, however; other procedures may be recommended for that purpose.
Compression stockings come in both over-the-counter and prescription varieties, with prescription stockings offering more support and benefit than over-the-counter brands. Stockings come in a range of compression, allowing the physician to customize treatment to a patient’s degree of vascular disease. Dr. Piano offers a wide range of compression stockings to his Chicago-area patients, both as treatment on their own or in combination with other vein therapies. Stockings are chosen based on a patient’s specific needs and the severity of the vascular disease. If you want to learn more about how compression stockings treatment might help you manage your vascular disease, please feel free to checkout the above-mentioned link or the pianoveinvascular.com online site.