Should You Be Sleeping in Compression Socks? What to Know

Compression socks are designed to provide progressive pressure on your legs, which encourages blood circulation and reduces swelling. They also help prevent blood clots and support tired or weak leg muscles.

If you have liquid in your legs, you are pregnant, whether you have certain medical conditions or if you are an athlete who recovers many training sessions, you can find compression socks during the useful day. However, Most health care providers advise to wear them at nightApart from certain medical situations.

If you have Fluid accumulation In your legs or ankles, or you recover from a medical procedure, a health care provider may recommend daytime use of compression socks.

However, they can advise to sleep in them. While you sleep, your legs are already in a position that encourages blood circulation, and there is little evidence that night use is beneficial. Removing compression socks at night allows your skin to breathe and can prevent the degradation of the skin.

However, there are times when your healthcare provider may recommend sleeping in compression socks, especially if you recover from invasive surgery. The researchers discovered that the night use of compression stockings is sometimes recommended for people who have:

• Venous ulcers (open wounds on the legs due to the lack of blood flow)
• Radiofrequency removal
• Phleectomy (a procedure to eliminate varicose veins)
• Navel of varicose veins

If you plan to wear compression socks, talk to your doctor first, especially if you plan to sleep in it. It may be dangerous to wear compression socks 24 hours a day, and they are not sure to use for everyone.

For example, people with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) may not be able to wear compression socks safely. The cushion causes a narrowing of the arteries that transport the blood from the heart to other parts of the body. In this case, leg compression can be dangerous.

Also, people in wheelchair or those with Limited feeling in their legs Need to be careful with compression socks. They may have trouble saying when a wound develops or is unable to assess the force of compression or when something is too tight. The same risks apply to people with a limited cognitive function. When you wear compression socks, you must be able to communicate what they feel and if they are uncomfortable.

The other risks of sleep in compression socks include:

• Skin irritation
• Drought and itching
• Reactions allergic to material
• Pain and discomfort
• Skin discoloration
• Infections, wounds or skin breakdown
• Cause damage
• Swelling in other areas, such as toes or thighs

If your health professional recommends wearing compression socks, follow their instructions closely. They will make you know the pressure you need and how long to wear them. The pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (MMHG) and is presented in low pressure, average pressure and high pressure, so it is important to choose the right one.

Here are other things to consider when wearing compression socks, especially if you have advised to sleep in them:

• Wear compression socks at the recommended height. Try not to group them or pull them too high as it can restrict blood flow and increase the swelling.
• Remove the stockings according to the instructions of your health care provider. Once you have removed them, clean your legs and enter the skin.
• Regularly check your legs for wounds. If you notice red marks or a painful that starts to develop, let your doctor know and do not put the socks back, unless you do.
• Keep your compression socks clean. Wash them every day if you can and avoid wearing dirty stockings as it may increase the risk of skin irritation or wounds.
• Replace your compression socks when they stand out. As a rule, you will need to replace your compression socks every three months or more.

If you notice that wearing compression socks, especially at night, is uncomfortable or simply not conducive to your lifestyle, there are alternatives that you can try. Talk to your health care provider before experimenting with other options. They can let you know what alternatives suit you and your condition. Here are some potential alternatives to compression socks to consider:

• Tubigrip: It is a tubular support bandage that comes in a roll. You can cut what you need and slide it on your leg. This approach can be the best if you have trouble putting compression socks.
• Compression clothing: If you have a limited mobility, you may notice that the purchase of compression clothes like leggings is easier to put and wear than compression socks.
• Circular compression packaging: These envelopes, which are in elastic material, can be adjusted to the compression you want. They can also be useful for people with open wounds or those who find it difficult to put compression socks.
• Ace bandages or elastic wraps: These bandages are used to wrap the legs and can provide some pressure on people who cannot put compression socks.
• Intermittent pneumatic compression devices (IPC): These compression devices use a small machine to inflate the devices and provide compression.
• Sequential compression devices (SCD): Once attached to a pump, these compression devices swell and deflate to promote blood circulation and prevent blood clots.

Sleeping in compression socks is generally not recommended unless you have venous ulcers or have had an invasive procedure. Your health professional will let you know what is best for your condition.

In many cases, There is no need to sleep in them Because your legs are already able to promote blood circulation. In addition, there is little research to support their use at night.

If you sleep in compression socks, Keep them clean and dry and pay attention to your skin. If you develop wounds or if the socks are too tight, call your health care provider immediately. These problems should be solved quickly to avoid ventilation or skin medical problems.