Over the last few years compression clothing has been growing in popularity for a wide ranges of uses. Although mostly compression clothing is seen being used by athletes and people who exercise, it has also been useful in treating some medical conditions as well. Furthermore, the use of compression socks and stockings are seen to have had positive effects on those who have used them.

Two areas where these products help most have been problems with circulation and problems caused by sleep apnea. The compression from the socks allows for more circulation in people who experience issues like deep vein thrombosis. Additionally, a recent study suggests that compression stockings may help cure sleep apnea, although some oppose that view. Compression clothing is also useful in everyday life, from exercising to just relaxing.

Everyday Benefits

In addition to the medical benefits from compression clothing, they can also be beneficial in everyday life. Many use compression socks, leggings, shirts, and pants in their everyday exercise routine. These help to keep blood moving and muscles warm while you are moving around. Another reason these articles of clothing are being used is just for comfort. They have become a mainstay as lounge clothing for college students. Also, using them as a bottom layer can help keep warm on a cold day.

Lucky for us, there is an ample supply of companies that produce compression clothing to suit all our needs. Production isn’t limited to athletics companies, with many suppliers of compression clothing offering a range of products from everyday use to medical use. The site www.therafirm.com provides a good overview of this range of compression clothing for both men and women.

Circulation Issues

The area of greatest medical benefits for compression stockings has to be circulation issues. Many medical issues experienced in the legs has to do with circulation. One such issue is varicose veins.

Varicose veins are twisted and enlarged veins that usually occur in the legs down to the ankles. Many who experience them see them as unsightly, and strive to get rid of them. They are caused by weakened valves and veins in the legs. Although they are common and many times cause no pain, they do have the potential to cause mild to moderate pain, especially if you spend a lot of time on your feet. Plus, they can lead to other more serious issues if they aren’t monitored.

A deep vein thrombosis has the potential to develop out of varicose veins. In a deep vein thrombosis, a blood clot occurs in a deep vein, usually the leg. These can become even more dangerous if that blood clot breaks loose and travels to the lungs, causing pulmonary embolism.

These problems and others in the medical world can be solved with compression leggings. Although they vary in size, style, and use compression leggings and stockings increase the blood flow in your legs, which prevents blood clots, and reduces some of the pain that you may experience. In addition, they can reduce pain caused by varicose veins, and may help those veins decrease in their visibility.

Sleep Issues

Another area where compression clothing is being talked about is in the treatment of sleep apnea. A recent study has suggested that wearing compression leggings might help reduce this condition.

Sleep apnea is a condition that is caused by the airway being partially or wholly blocked during sleep. This causes the person to wake up frequently are not be able to fall asleep at all. Sleep apnea patients have a heightened risk of serious medical conditions like high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke.

The most popular treatment for this is called a C-PAP machine, which holds the airway open while sleeping. The problem, is that many find sleeping while hooked up to a machine to be an unpleasant experience. For this reason some are turning to compression stockings to treat their sleep apnea. The study showed that 27% of people that wore compression stockings throughout the day experienced better uninterrupted sleep.

Unfortunately, that number isn’t high enough to convince all the in the medical community of its benefits. However, they may be shedding light on a new cause of sleep apnea that has to do with the movement of fluid between the neck and legs. Dr. Behrouz of UC-Irvine would still recommend the C-PAP machine to those experiencing obstructive sleep apnea.