NG sports prone to varicose veins 5 tips to wear the right elastic socks

The trend of exercising to lose weight is gaining popularity in China. However, if the concept of exercise is wrong, the posture is incorrect, or the amount of exercise increases suddenly, it may cause the blood vessels in the lower limbs to be overloaded, leading to or aggravating varicose vein symptoms. Doctors say that proper treatment and wearing medical elastic stockings can help improve the symptoms of varicose veins, but the longer the elastic stockings are worn, the better. It still depends on the severity of the symptoms, and it is best to avoid wearing them while sleeping to avoid affecting blood circulation.

Improper exercise posture and weight-bearing can easily increase blood vessel pressure in the lower limbs and may cause varicose veins.

Sudden exercise and excessive weight bearing may cause varicose veins in the lower limbs

Li Qiuyang, attending physician of cardiovascular surgery at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, admitted a female office worker in her 20s who had mild varicose veins. She heard from a friend that pedaling a flywheel could improve symptoms and help lose weight, so she neglected her usual exercise habits and went to the gym to pedal the flywheel for an hour. As a result, her lower limbs could not bear the load, she suffered severe pain and "rhythmiolysis", and she received emergency medical treatment and wore medical elastic stockings before her condition improved.

Not uncommon! The other one was a male college student weighing more than 80 kilograms. In order to build muscle, he went to the gym regularly to lift weights and dumbbells. However, because he did not have the habit of training his core muscles and his posture was incorrect during exercise, the weight pressure on his lower body was too great, which led to severe varicose veins and obvious "worms" on his legs.

There are many causes of varicose veins in the legs, including wrong exercise and weight loss

Dr. Li Qiuyang said that there are many causes of varicose veins in the lower limbs. In addition to obesity, heredity, female hormones, long periods of sitting or standing, constipation causing high abdominal pressure, and smoking causing high pulmonary artery pressure, incorrect posture and excessive exercise may also increase venous pressure and lead to varicose veins.

Dr. Li Qiuyang said that the better exercise principle is "gradual progress", first increase the strength of the core muscles, and then slowly increase the amount and intensity of exercise. (Photography by Luo Huiwen)

Taking the recently popular squat exercise as an example, if the deep muscle groups are not strong enough and the center of gravity is too forward when bending the knees, it will not only easily cause injuries to the knee and ankle joints, but the legs will also be over-supported by the connective tissue, causing micro-venous hyperplasia and leading to varicose veins. A better exercise principle is "gradual progress". Under the guidance of a professional coach, first exercise the core and deep muscle groups with the correct posture, and then slowly increase the amount and intensity of exercise.

Varicose veins are caused by the weakening of the elasticity of the leg veins or the poor closure of the venous valves, which prevents blood from resisting the force of gravity and being sent back to the heart. In addition to seeking medical treatment, people can reduce the burden on the veins in the lower limbs and prevent or improve varicose veins by changing bad posture, massaging acupoints and lifting their legs for 20 to 30 minutes before going to bed.

Wearing socks to improve varicose veins is divided into 4 levels for medical use

In addition, many people now wear elastic socks or leg beauty socks for health care. However, doctors remind that wearing them incorrectly will not relieve the symptoms of leg pain and swelling, but may aggravate varicose veins. Be careful!

Medical elastic stockings can be divided into 4 levels according to the elasticity coefficient. People can use appropriate medical elastic stockings after the doctor considers the severity of varicose veins and leg vein pressure. Normal leg venous pressure is 3 to 5 mmHg. If the patient has mild spider-web-like varicose veins in the legs, the venous pressure is between 15 and 20 mmHg, and level 1 medical elastic stockings can be used. If the leg veins are swollen like earthworms and are swollen and painful, level 2 medical elastic stockings with a leg venous pressure of 20 to 30 mmHg can be used.

Level 3 medical elastic stockings are suitable for people with leg venous pressure of 30 to 40 mmHg, usually those with severe venous edema in the legs or those whose condition recurs after treatment; Level 4 leg venous pressure is 40 to 50 mmHg, and is only used by a few people with lymphadenedema or elephantiasis.

Medical elastic stockings can be divided into 4 levels according to the elasticity coefficient. People can use appropriate medical elastic stockings after the doctor considers the severity of varicose veins and leg vein pressure. (Photography by Luo Huiwen)

As for the so-called "beautiful leg socks", they use "den" as the unit of elasticity, which is different from medical elastic socks. Dr. Li Qiuyang said that the elasticity of level 1 medical elastic stockings is approximately equivalent to 250 to 280 deniers, while general leg beauty stockings are at most 100 to 120 deniers. Moreover, they do not use a circular knitting method and do not have a "tight at the bottom and loose at the top" progressive pressure design, making it difficult to achieve the effect of improving varicose veins.

How to use elastic stockings correctly to improve varicose veins

When using medical elastic stockings, in addition to paying attention to the expiration date and replacing them every six months, the Food and Drug Administration also reminds the public to follow the five key points of "inquiry, morning, slow, return, and movement" for correct use.

The difference between medical elastic stockings and general elastic stockings. (Photography by Luo Huiwen)

【5 tips for using medical elastic stockings】

• [Inquiry] Consult a doctor before purchase, and only the stockings that fit well will be effective: Each person's condition and required pressure are different. It is recommended to follow the doctor's instructions and choose medical elastic stockings with appropriate pressure and fit according to the condition of your legs.

• [Morning] Wear it when you get up in the morning, but not when you go to bed: Because blood has not yet accumulated in the feet in the early morning, it is ideal to wear compression stockings at this time. When you sleep at night, your body is lying flat and blood does not accumulate. Wearing medical elastic stockings may cause poor blood circulation. It is only necessary to wear it for 8 to 10 hours a day, but not too long.

• [Slow] Put on slowly from the feet, and it is easy to be damaged by pulling: Medical elastic stockings have pressure. When wearing them, be sure to pull them up slowly from the feet in sections. If they are pulled improperly, the pressure distribution of the medical elastic stockings will easily become unbalanced, causing damage.

• [Reply] If you experience itching, heat, pain, or other discomfort in your legs after using medical elastic stockings, be sure to return to the doctor for consultation.

• [Movement] Exercise more often and health will come naturally: In addition to the assistance of medical elastic socks, developing a regular exercise habit is the only way to stay healthy.