Traveling might be soothing to the mind, but sometimes it wreaks havoc on your body. This is especially true if you are constantly on flights that take more than 3 hours to reach your destination.
It is common knowledge that moving around is good for the body because it helps with proper blood circulation. However, on long flights, you hardly get any space to move around; as a result, your blood circulation suffers, and you experience swelling and pain in the legs.
Heavy, achy, and swollen legs during long air travel is a common occurrence that almost everyone experiences, but that is no reason not to treat it.
What are compression socks?
As the name suggests, compression socks work on the principle of compression therapy. These socks alleviate leg pain and swelling by applying gentle pressure on the veins and leg muscles which helps dramatically improve blood circulation.
Aside from affecting blood flow, not moving around when you are traveling also puts you at risk of developing medical issues such as DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and pulmonary embolism.
Compression socks for women have been proven to reduce the likelihood of that as well by helping the leg muscles constrict, which sends the blood back to the heart, thereby aiding blood flow.
Benefits of compression socks
Compression socks are not just for sick people; they provide many benefits and can be worn by anyone facing issues with poor blood circulation in the legs. The biggest advantages of compression socks are:
Improves blood flow
Compression socks are made with stretchy material that applies pressure on the veins and the leg muscles. This action improves blood circulation, which also helps with pain and swelling in the legs.
Helps with swelling
Poor circulation in the legs often causes them to ache, feel lumpy, and swell. This is often seen in those that sit or stand in one place for too long. Compression socks help these conditions by improving blood flow.
Prevent DVT
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a condition where a clot forms in the veins, mostly in the legs. Prolonged lack of movement is often one of the risk factors for developing DVT.
Help with varicose veins
Varicose veins are swollen veins that have a twisted appearance. They mostly affect the legs and can be a sign of poor circulation. Compression socks help to manage varicose veins by reducing the pain and discomfort associated with them.
Faster recovery
Athletes that train for long hours often put their leg muscles under strain. This causes pain, swelling, and slower muscle recovery. Compression socks have been shown to effectively combat these issues.
Side effects of compression socks
Although wearing compression socks is completely safe for anyone, sometimes they can cause certain side effects.
Most of the side effects of compression socks stem from the wrong usage, such as ill-fitting socks or the wrong way of putting them on. Some of its common side effects include:
- Skin diseases
- Skin infections
- Issues with blood circulation
These side effects can easily be avoided by:
Choosing the right socks
Compression socks come in various pressure levels, so you need to go for the best treatment for your health condition.
Avoid overwearing
Unless your doctor tells you to, you should not wear compression socks for long periods of time. You should also avoid wearing them overnight.
Check for fit
Compression socks should fit you correctly, and if they are too tight, there can be dents in the skin which can hinder blood flow and cause bruising and irritation.
Takeaway
Compression socks offer a lot of benefits to those with poor blood flow in the legs; however, like with any good thing, improper use of compression socks can also lead to some side effects.
These side effects can be avoided by choosing compression socks that have the right pressure level and are of the right size.
