Compression Socks On Long Flights Reduce Deep Vein Thrombosis Risk
Compression socks are items of clothing that are specially designed to help the blood flow within the lower parts of the leg
. Throughout a period of time, the blood supply in your body will tend to pool in the lower parts of the body, namely your legs and feet. If this is left to it's own devices it can cause more serious problems such as a thrombosis. Elevation of the feet and legs will help the pooling by allowing gravity to work to bring the blood supply back but this only offers temporary relief. Deep Vein Thrombosis is a very serious condition which can lead to blood clots forming in the arteries near your heart and lungs.
Compression socks can be worn at all to help the circulation of blood, they are also commonly worn by people who are travelling on a plane as DVT is a very serious condition and can be found mostly by people who have flown very recently. This is accomplished by having a graduated pressure applied by the socks. The compression is built in tighter at the foot and then is less near the top of the sock so that the lowest parts of the leg get the most pressure placed upon them. This design helps the body to pump the pooling blood back out of the foot, up the leg, and back to the heart and lungs, so that the process of circulation can be performed properly.
People who also have to stand for prolonged periods of time suffer from pooling of the blood in the legs. If a person has poor blood circulation it is very important to assist the heart in removing the excess blood from the feet and legs, pooling of the blood can lead a thrombosis forming and the blood clot can transfer to your pulmonary artery which can often be fatal.