What Are Compression Stockings and How Are They Used?
Compression stockings (also known as medical stockings) are used to treat problems with blood and fluid circulation in the leg. Compression treatment is simple, relatively painless, and helps to decrease or eliminate the need for drug or surgical treatment of sluggish circulation. Circulation problems are frequently a symptom of a larger disease or disorder rather than a disorder in and of itself (i.e. diabetes.) When poor circulation is an issue, the extremities such as the feet and hands suffer the most damage, particularly the feet. The reason is that these parts of the body are the furthest from the heart. The circulatory system must work very hard to get oxygenated blood all the way from the heart to the feet, and then return that blood back to the heart for re-oxidization. It is particularly difficult for blood from the feet to return to the heart via the veins, since blood going in this direction has the added disadvantage of fighting against the pull of gravity. At the same tim
