Did you know that more than 6.5 million people in the United States over the age of 40 have peripheral artery disease (PAD)? For many patients with PAD, exercising, dieting and quitting tobacco use are some of the ways you can manage symptoms.

Another beneficial way to reduce symptoms is by using compression socks. During the early stages of PAD, these socks are often used for varicose veins, swelling, and mild pain. Unfortunately, not every patient with the disease is a candidate to use them.

At Vascular Care Specialists of Los Angeles, Dr. Mathew Cheung and Dr. Peter Lin discuss if compression socks are right for you in case you are diagnosed with peripheral artery disease. In this post, you will learn what are compression socks and when should you wear compression socks for your legs.

Compression socks or stockings are socks that are designed to compress or squeeze the legs to improve circulation or prevent swelling. They are often prescribed by a doctor for certain conditions that affect the lower legs. Different types of compression stockings are available based on the needs of the patient.

There are three main types of compression socks or stockings:

• Graduated compression stockings: With this type of compression stocking, the compression is strongest at the ankle and decreases up toward the knee. If you have peripheral edema or orthostatic hypotension, your doctor may recommend this type. In fact, graduated compression stockings generally require a doctor’s prescription and professional fitting.
• Anti-embolism stockings: This type of stocking also features graduated compression that decreases from the ankle upwards, but it is used for people who are not mobile. “Anti-embolism stockings can help reduce the chances of developing deep vein thrombosis,” says a Riverside provider. Anti-embolism stockings also generally require a doctor’s prescription and professional fitting.
• Nonmedical support hosiery: This type of compression stocking does not require a prescription and is available at most pharmacies. Support hosiery offers the same level of compression throughout the stocking and can provide relief for tired, achy legs.

Compression socks can be beneficial for many conditions. Your doctor may recommend you wear compression socks for:

• Boosting circulation in the legs
• Decreasing swelling in the legs and ankles
• Improving lymphatic drainage
• Managing orthostatic hypotension, or low blood pressure when you stand up after a period of sitting down
• Preventing blood from pooling in the leg veins
• Preventing deep vein thrombosis in the legs
• Preventing venous ulcers
• Reducing pain related to varicose veins
• Reversing venous hypertension

Compression socks can be useful for other situations, too:

• Athletes sometimes wear compression socks on their arms or hands to help improve blood flow and oxygen delivery while they’re working out, practicing or during competition. Some athletes also wear compression wraps to help speed up their post-workout recovery.
• For someone who is confined to a wheelchair, compression socks can help improve blood flow and reduce swelling in the legs.
• Pregnant women who are prone to swelling in their legs, feet or ankles may want to wear compression stockings to reduce chances of swelling. Most pregnant women see the best results with compression socks when they put them on in the morning as a preventative measure, versus putting them on after they’ve developed swelling.
• Airplane passengers or crew on long or frequent air flights may want to wear compression socks to help increase circulation and reduce their risk of developing deep vein thrombosis or blood clots.
• For people on their feet all day at work, compression socks can help reduce fatigue, pain or swelling by increasing blood and oxygen flow in the legs and feet.

Compression stockings aren’t usually prescribed by a doctor for peripheral artery disease. They are most often recommended to help improve circulation and reduce swelling, such as what is found with edema and other conditions. Doctors may prescribe compression socks for certain symptoms in patients with diabetes, which is a risk factor for PAD. Other times, they may recommend that diabetics avoid wearing them and wear diabetic socks instead.

Compression socks fit tightly on the leg while diabetic socks are loose-fitting to avoid cutting off circulation to the lower legs and feet. Compression stockings help increase blood flow from the legs back to the heart while diabetic socks promote blood flow to the legs, which is also important with PAD.

Diabetic socks are the preferred choice if you have been diagnosed with diabetes and PAD. You shouldn’t wear compression stockings with peripheral artery disease, and wearing them if you have diabetes and PAD can be dangerous. These garments can exacerbate PAD symptoms by impeding already-limited circulation.

If you’re wondering if compression socks are good for PAD, the answer is typically no. It is best to avoid these garments if you have been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease.

Lifestyle and diet can’t cure PAD, but certain changes can alleviate the symptoms until treatment is pursued. If you have risk factors for PAD, such as diabetes, you can also make changes that can help reduce your risk.

1. LIFESTYLE

Regular exercise is one of the best lifestyle changes you can incorporate into your routine to mitigate the risk for PAD and help alleviate symptoms temporarily if you have been diagnosed with the condition. It can improve circulation in the legs, which may reduce numbness and pain. Walking is the best exercise, allowing you to work to increase endurance by going a little further each day. You can do other activities you enjoy as well, such as biking and swimming.

Resting your legs after activity can help stop the pain temporarily, especially since claudication is pain that occurs during exercise. Monitor your feet and notice if any sores appear, or if any wounds are noticeably slower to heal.

2. DIET

Your diet directly impacts the buildup of fats and cholesterol in your arteries. Eating a healthy diet can help prevent further accumulation of plaque. Reducing your sodium intake can minimize swelling in the legs.

Avoid foods with high saturated fats since they can also add to plaque buildup. Examples include red meat, whole milk, and other dairy products. Along with reducing the amount of saturated fats you consume, you can also increase your fiber intake. Fiber attaches to the fats in your diet and pushes them through the system instead of allowing them to linger in your arteries where they can turn into plaque.

3. MEDICAL TREATMENT

Medical treatments can help alleviate the symptoms of PAD and may prevent the disease from progressing. USA Vascular Centers provides treatments for peripheral artery disease, including the following:

• Angioplasty, a procedure where a vascular specialist inserts a tiny catheter into the affected artery and inflates a balloon on the tip to compress plaque buildup in the arteries.
• Stent placement, typically done in conjunction with angioplasty where a wire mesh stent is placed inside the artery to hold it open.
• Atherectomy, a procedure that requires the use of a tiny catheter that has a blade on the tip to scrape plaque from the walls of the artery.

At Vascular Care Specialists of Los Angeles, we strive to provide the best service, care, and results possible. If you have peripheral arterial disease and other circulation conditions, give us a call at 626-275-9566 to schedule an appointment. You can also visit us at www.vcsla.com for more information.