Compression Socks for Nurses: Why They Should Wear Compression Socks

Nursing is one of the physically and psychologically most demanding occupations. Your body suffers from the extended work hours when you are required to stand for most of the shift. And this has the greatest effect on your legs! They put up with discomfort, edema, soreness, sweat, and everything else you can dish out to keep you up all day.

Regardless of how fulfilling working in the medical industry may be, nurses are more likely to have a variety of foot issues at the end of the workday due to aching, swollen, and weary legs and feet. Compression socks prevent this. In this write-up, we will focus on the importance of these socks and other things. Keep reading!

Why are Nurses at Risk?

The list of jobs that need long hours continues growing, including cashiers, bartenders, and medical professionals. Many occupations require working many shifts, and those who work in these industries must work continuously without breaks. One such field is nursing, where it is customary for professionals to work at least a 12-hour shift.

Employers prefer nurses who work extra hours as needed by the medical industry. As a result, nurses must stand for a long time. Such long work hours have been linked to negative behavioral, cognitive, and psychomotor outcomes, including emotional disorders, mistakes made at work, and injuries. These dangers are associated with a higher risk of health issues and potentially pose a threat to the life of the employee.

What Dangers Come with Standing Too Long?

Anything in excess is harmful. This also applies to prolonged standing or sitting. Standing still for an extended amount of time may lead to a number of health issues, such as worse circulation in the lower limbs. Veins return blood and deoxygenated waste products to the heart, whereas arteries pump blood and oxygen out from the heart. An extended period of standing or sitting causes the veins to pump against gravity. Prolonged exposure to this may put stress on your body.

Plantar Fasciitis: A condition called plantar fasciitis is brought on by overusing your ligament. The plantar fascia, which typically supports the arch of our foot, is torn a little as a result. The ligament is stretched while one is standing or walking and applies pressure to the arch.

Edema: Another major health danger associated with standing on your feet all day is edema in the legs and feet. It may result in edema or an accumulation of fluid in the legs. Poor blood circulation is linked to edema, which may be painful and uncomfortable.

Blisters: People who exercise and wear shoes all the time often get blisters filled with fluid when their feet come into contact with friction. Due to their constant standing, nurses are prone to developing blisters.

Athlete's Foot: A fungal illness that begins between the toes, the athlete's foot is sometimes referred to as tinea pedis or the ringworm of the foot. Direct contact involving contaminated bed linens, socks, shoes, floors, towels, or sick people may result in the transmission of this infectious disease.

What Advantages Do Compression Socks Offer for Nurses?

It's not uncommon for nurses to have aching and sensitive feet at the conclusion of their shift. If not now, you will eventually experience pain from your long workdays spent standing. The best socks to reduce the side effects are compression socks. Six advantages of compression socks for nurses are as follows:

Minimizes Leg Pain and Tiredness

Because nurses spend lengthy hours standing up all day, fatigue, discomfort, and soreness in the legs are among the most prevalent ailments they encounter. Standing up strains not only their intellect but also their bodies.

Compression socks exert pressure to relieve pain and discomfort, increasing blood and oxygen circulation to your legs. Long periods of standing might also cause your muscles to accumulate lactic acid. Compression socks may alleviate your legs' pain by helping to remove this accumulation.

Delivers Relief from Edema

A medical disorder called lymphedema blocks the lymphatic system, swelling the arms and legs. Radiation or chemotherapy-induced damage to lymph nodes may be the cause. In addition to other therapies, compression socks may help manage lymphedema by reducing swelling. They provide pressure to the legs, feet, and ankles to promote healthy lymphatic flow.

Reduces Spider and Varicose Veins

Varicose veins become varicose when they swell, show through the skin, or twist and turn. In contrast, spider veins are tiny and have a web-like appearance. Standing for extended periods of time increases your risk of developing this illness. Blood clotting in the lower extremities may be the cause. Compression socks, which wrap snugly around your foot and promote blood flow back to the heart, assist in easing the symptoms of varicose and spider veins.

Lowers the Risk of Contracting DVT

Blood clots present in the deep veins of the body cause DVT or deep vein thrombosis. Occasionally, they may escape and enter your bloodstream, blocking it. A potentially fatal pulmonary embolism, or blockage in your lungs, may result from this obstruction. It is well-established that compression treatment lowers the risk of DVT. By facilitating optimal circulatory system function, compression socks lower the danger of blood clots. If blood clots have already formed, some physicians advise using compression socks for nurses 15-20 mmHg in addition to standard therapy for treating DVT.

Repairs Injured Tissues

The nutrition and oxygen needed for their legs are lost by nurses who spend their whole shift standing up. It is well known that compression socks exert pressure and promote healthy blood circulation. They aid in the rapid healing of wounds and the regeneration of damaged tissues.

Enhances Your General Comfort

Compression socks are essential for nurses since they provide comfort throughout the day. The combination of all the aforementioned advantages of compression socks reduces pain. At the conclusion of the shift, your legs won't ache or get sore, and blisters are less likely to appear.

How Do Nurses Use Compression Socks?

Stretchable, tight-fitting socks that gently apply pressure to your ankles and calves (if you wear long socks) are known as compression socks. This pressure lessens pain and swelling, encourages blood flow, and inhibits the development of clots.

The 15-20 mmHg or 20-30 mmHg compression socks are beneficial to nurses because when you stand, compression socks help your body return blood to the heart instead of causing it to pool in your legs.

What Level of Compression is Appropriate for Nurses?

When standing for more than half of the day, many nurses like to wear compression socks for nurses, and if they need additional support, they may gradually go up to a 20-30 mmHg compression. For the day, a comfortable squeeze of 15-20 mmHg is preferred by most nurses, who prefer a mild level to get them started.

Conclusion

Why not place an immediate order for a pair of compression socks if you're a nurse and haven't tried them yet? You can make your purchase for the best compression socks for nurses at SNUG360. We offer the best quality compression socks that will help you alleviate the pain & maintain good health. Explore our store now!