My MD husband just told me I don’t need compression socks on domestic flights because I get up to the bathroom every 2 hours and I always plant myself in an aisle seat.
I don’t need them for international flights because we always try to fly at night so we can sleep flat.
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My husband said that if you’re walking regularly, you generally don’t need compression stockings. They’re more useful for people like OR nurses who stand in one place for long periods. Walking activates your calf muscles, which helps push blood upward and prevents it from pooling in the lower legs. However, people with significant varicose veins may still benefit from wearing compression socks.
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Right. On most day time and domestic flights, I walk around. But on longer and overnight flights, I wear compression socks.
And I did not fly business for the 17 hours plus flights we just took…so compression socks for those!
I did my share of standing, as well. A coworker clued me in that wearing compression stockings might keep me from getting varicose veins - that’s what sold me. Even if it wasn’t necessarily so, I would have taken the chance … and I don’t have them, so who knows. I’m a better safe than sorry kind of person.
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The only time I’ve worn compression socks is when we flew to New Zealand - a 15 hour flight. I have skinny ankles, and even with the compression socks my ankles swelled some.
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My ankles don’t swell on flights but my legs get uncomfortable and compression socks really help with that. I will definitely wear them for my next flight
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I never wore compression socks when I was traveling. I have been to Australia twice, Buenos Aires once, the far east more times than I can remember, and Europe again more times than I can remember. I never thought that I needed them. I have on occasion noticed that I wanted to loosen up the laces on my shoes but never thought about it much.
I do like to keep my feet up on long flights if I can. Business class overseas is often quite comfortable (if you can get upgraded or if you can afford it). I recall Quantas to Australia had a rather large business class section, although this was a long time ago.
I did usually take ear plugs to cut down on noise. The issue that I see with noise cancelling headphones is that they are relatively large.
I think that this varies by individual and we each just need to see what works for us. It does occur to me that an extra pair of socks would be rather easy to put in carry on luggage. If you are half way to Australia and decide you want them I am not sure if it would be uncomfortable putting them on, but at least you would have them for the return trip.
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You might want to try one of the brands mentioned on this thread and just take them with you and put them on if you feel you need them. My legs ache on flights I think from the change in pressure maybe. The compression socks really help with that.
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@scubasue WEAR COMPRESSION SOCKS on flights other than short ones. You can find comfortable ones. According to articles I have read, YOU, with your low pulse and blood pressure, are far more at risk for air travel DVTs than if you were a couch potato.
Many people get DVTs and never notice. Some end up dying. Even with compression socks on, get up and walk around, drink water, and my husband’s cardiologist says to write the alphabet with each of your feet every hour. Some people start taking baby aspirin five days before a long flight. I don’t typically do that, but maybe before our Africa flight, because it’s two very long flights.
Lest you think I’m just paranoid, I was an airline/military pilot for 37 years, as was my husband, and on one great hiking trip to Switzerland, he didn’t wear his compression socks on the flight over. He got a deep vein thrombosis that threw a clot through a hole in his heart (that he was unaware of), and had a stroke. He was lucky, it could have been a pulmonary embolism that could have killed him.
This is a serious risk. Don’t take a chance.
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I like Sockwell compression socks. I used them for a number of years on longer flights. I would put them on just before boarding. I also have several pairs of no show socks that are compression and I take those on trips that involve alot of walking in heat as my feet sometimes swell.
Also if you want a thinner compression sock they come in different compression strengths. Due to a recent diagnosis I now wear compression almost daily. I wear thigh high or pantyhose style. I wear 15-20 and that level of compression is pretty comfortable. Knee highs can in some people just push the fluid to the top of the sock.
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I wear them on long flights. I also wear them on long car drives. My legs just feel better when I do.
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Because of terrible long-covid inflammation, I wore compression kneehighs or leg sleeves (cheapos from Amazon) for several years. Those symptoms are gone, but I can feel the compression of leggings/pants that are tight around my calves. Old Navy has really cheap but durable compression leggings in sizes/lengths for all, and you can return them if they don’t suit you.
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Well, alrighty then. Looks like I’ll be wearing compression socks. Probably on every flight. For the rest of my life. Thank you for the info AND the warning. So glad your DHs episode turned out to be a lesson and not a tragedy.
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I do like that idea or the compression sleeves that @BunsenBurner recommended upthread.
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I am glad! If I can help prevent anyone from learning the lesson the way we did, I am happy. Strangely, many aircrew members have gotten DVTs, even though we should know better.
The lesson for us was painful. Besides the stroke and DVT, he lost his pilot’s license for 15 months and messed up a perfectly good trip to Switzerland, and we’ve never gone back.
Not a lesson I ever want to learn again!
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I have POTS so wear compression socks every day. Pre diagnosis ( in my 40’s) on a flight from Dubai my legs looked to be double in size and I could barely bend my knees. Now I always wear compression socks for flying.
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They help to keep you from getting varicose veins to begin with.
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I don’t wear compression socks but I take a baby aspirin the day before and the day of a long flight. For a while a daily baby aspirin was recommended to prevent heart attacks and strokes since it acts as a blood thinner. The current advice is against this because of the risk of a bleed. However I figure the bleeding risk is slight for two days of consumption but on the other hand it may help prevent clots. This is just me and what I do, I’m not a doctor or anything.
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They also make compression sleeves that go from ankle to knee. They are more comfortable and you can wear whatever type socks you like with them. Many people wear them for running.
Pay attention to measurements in selecting size. Take time to get out the tape measure and actually measure your calf/ankle before ordering.
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Key causes and risks of forming varicose veins are aging, family history, pregnancy, prolonged standing or sitting, obesity, and hormonal changes, which are more common in women.
So when will you start wearing compression socks to keep them from forming initially?