Compression Socks Can Help With POTS

I have POTS which stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. One of the problems in POTS is that blood pools in my lower extremities. This is a problem when I stand up especially. There’s a significant risk of passing out but even short of passing out I have symptoms due to the lack of blood getting to my brain. It turns out your brain works better when it has enough blood and oxygen getting to it.

One option to help this problem is compression socks and stockings. I’ve been trying various compression gear for the last couple of years and I wanted to give a write up of some of the products I’ve tried, specifically my favorites. These are 20 mmHg strength which means they are medium as far as compression goes. I’ve found this to be enough to be helpful but not so much that I can’t stand to wear them. Full disclosure the links I am putting in this article are Amazon Affiliate links so I will get a small monetary kick back if you buy through these links.

My favorite choice for knee high compression socks is from a brand called David accessories (https://amzn.to/2DxTzR0). These are fairly cheap coming in at $27 for six pairs at the time I’m writing this. When I first started wearing compression socks I had trouble finding options that were less than about $20 per pair. I’ve worn these socks pretty regularly for the last 6 months and they aren’t showing very much wear and tear at all. They are also fairly thin which helps for warmer months. For something a bit thicker try these ones from Compressionz (https://amzn.to/2D7XUJH).

Another option that I have used a lot is compression sleeves for you calves. It’s compression socks without the sock part. I like the sleeves from Acro Sport (https://amzn.to/2D8IbtU). These are particularly great when I need to wear specific shoes that don’t work with socks. It’s also great for summer when you want to wear sandals.

One last item I wanted to mention is these thigh high compression stockings from BriteLeafs (https://amzn.to/2JOokBB). Thigh high is not my favorite as they feel a bit more restrictive than the socks do but they do provide more support which is worth it when I know it’s going to be a hard day. I use them for travel days and sometime weddings.