What Are Varicose Veins, And How Do Compression Stockings From A Toronto Compounding Pharmacy Help?

As a Toronto compounding pharmacy, we want you to know what varicose veins are. Varicose veins refer to the veins that can be seen on the skin. They are twisted, enlarged veins. Any superficial vein can be varicose, but usually, it happens in the legs. The reason is that when we stand and walk upright, the pressure on the veins increases. A variation of varicose veins is spider veins. Mostly, spider veins are a cosmetic concern and don’t cause any pain. For some people, even varicose veins are a cosmetic concern, but it causes pain and discomfort for others. Sometimes it can lead to even severe problems.

Why Do Varicose Veins Occur?

Varicose veins happen when the blood doesn’t flow smoothly from the veins back to the heart. It gets stuck behind the tiny valves in a person’s veins. This accumulation usually happens in the feet and the legs but could happen anywhere else too. It mainly occurs in the legs and feet because it takes the longest for blood to travel back to the heart.

What Are The Symptoms of Varicose Veins?

Not all varicose veins patients feel pain. So, how can you figure out if you have varicose veins? Here are the signs you should look for:

• Veins are dark purple or blue
• Veins appear twisted and bulging

The painful symptoms of varicose veins include:

• Achy or heavy feeling in your legs
• Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping, and swelling in your lower legs
• Worsened pain after sitting or standing for a long time
• Itching around one or more of your veins
• Skin discoloration around a varicose vein

Spider veins are smaller than varicose veins. They are closer to the skin’s surface and are mostly blue or red. They are usually found in the legs but can also occur on the face. They get their name from the spider web as they often resemble it.

Why Do Doctors in Toronto Prescribe Compression Stockings?

If you go to a physician or any healthcare worker in Toronto, they will probably prescribe compression stockings. The reason is compression stockings help with improved circulation and stop the disease from spreading or getting worse. They also help decrease the discomfort and the pain.

How do compression stockings work?

Compression stockings help decrease the pain and discomfort associated with the disease as well as improving blood flow. According to researchers, Roman soldiers used to wrap their legs in leather to help with the circulation during long marches. Fortunately, modern compression stockings are much more helpful than leather straps. They are designed in a manner to provide continuous pressure to the legs. This helps send the blood back to the heart. Usually, compression stockings apply more pressure to the lower part of the leg and the feet. Although various studies report the benefits of compression stockings for varicose veins, there is still no evidence supporting the idea that they can also eliminate the illness.

A study conducted in 2018 reported that compression stockings with 18 to 21 mm pressure helped reduce the aches and pain more than regular stockings. Another study conducted in 2017 reported that when patients wore the stockings of 22mm for six months, it helped with the swelling associated with pregnancy. This means that even though compression stockings are not a treatment for the varicose veins, they help contain it, not spread further, and alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with varicose veins.

Which Type of Compression Stockings are Better?

There are three main types of compression stockings. Which one suits you better depends on the number of varicose veins, the type, and the underlying reasons.

Support pantyhose

These are the least tight options for patients. They do exert pressure but not as much as the other types.

Compression socks and stockings

These come in a wide variety of pressures. You can purchase them at any pharmacy or drug store. You can even buy them online and have them delivered to your doorstep. They give you more pressure and help than support pantyhose.

Prescription compression stockings

These exert the most pressure. They are usually tailored for the patient by a specialist. Custom compression garments are made to be as tight as possible without cutting off the blood circulation. They are not readily available but are made to order. You can contact a good Toronto compounding pharmacy, and they will take your size and prepare the compression stockings that fit you like a glove.

Why Have A Toronto Compounding Pharmacy Make Compression Stockings For You?

Having your compression stockings made by a compounding pharmacy in Toronto may seem costlier and time-consuming, but it has its benefits. First of all, they will be made specifically for you. They will consider your size, the severity of the problem, and much more before creating the stockings. Also, as the situation changes, you can have different compression stockings made so that you always get the best treatment. Depending on the severity of the condition, the ready-made compression stockings might not work for you. Again, that is something a compounding pharmacy can help you with.

Final Word

Compression stockings might not eliminate varicose veins, but they do help by stopping the disease from spreading. The pressure they exert on the legs makes sure that the blood keeps flowing and doesn’t collect anymore in the veins. Having your compression stockings tailored by a compounding pharmacy can give you various benefits. If you have any more questions about compression stockings, contact us in Toronto, and we would be happy to help.