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Compression stockings improve your blood flow. They can lessen pain and swelling in your legs. They can also lower your chances of getting blood clots and other circulation problems.They come in different sizes and strengths, so your doctor will need to decide which option will work best.
What Are They? Compression stockings are specially made, snug-fitting, stretchy socks that gently squeeze your leg. Graduated compression or pressure stockings are tighter around your ankle and get looser as they move up your leg.
The best results come from the right fit, the right pressure level, and the right routine.
Compression stockings work by applying graduated pressure—snugger at the ankle and gradually lighter up the leg—to support healthy circulation and reduce vein-related symptoms. Selecting the correct style and compression strength helps improve comfort, compliance, and overall effectiveness.
The pressure these stockings put on your legs helps your blood vessels work better. The arteries that take oxygen-rich blood to your muscles can relax, so blood flows freely. The veins get a boost pushing blood back to your heart.
Compression stockings can keep your legs from getting tired and achy. They can also ease swelling in your feet and ankles as well as help prevent and treat spider and varicose veins. They may even stop you from feeling light-headed or dizzy when you stand up.
Because the blood keeps moving, it’s harder for it to pool in your veins and make a clot. If one forms and breaks free, it can travel with your blood and get stuck somewhere dangerous, like your lungs. Clots also make it harder for blood to flow around them, and that can cause swelling, discolored skin, and other problems.
If you need the stockings for medical reasons, your doctor will measure your legs and prescribe the right ones for you.
