Ask Your Pharmacist

Question:

I often suffer from tired, achy legs and usually at the end of the day after standing on my feet the whole day, my ankles are swollen. Is there anything I can use?

Answer:

The symptoms you have described are due to insufficient or poor blood flow.

Compression stockings may be useful for you. The varying pressures at different parts of the stockings, where it is greatest at the ankles and decreases up the legs, increases blood flow from the ankle back to the heart. They come in different compression grades: light support (8 to 17 mmHg), medium support  (18 to 24 mmHg) and strong support (25 to 35 mmHg). Mild compression helps with tired, achy legs, slight ankle swelling, mild varicose veins. Mediumcompression helps sufferers with chronic leg fatigue, soreness and moderate varicose veins. Strong compression is used for severe varicose veins, swollen ankles and leg ulcer treatment.

These stockings come in varying lengths, sizes and designs. As a rough guide, knee-length stockings are good for varicose veins below knee area whilst pantyhose or thigh stockings are ideal for varicose veins present on thigh or above knee areas.

Creams and tablets containing plant-based flavonoidic fractions.may also be of use to improve the blood flow back to the heart and they are easily obtainable from pharmacies. However, pregnant ladies or consumers with long term medical conditions or medications are advised to consult their doctor before using.

Tubular bandages are not recommended as they usually do not give adequate pressure for venous insufficiency conditions though less leg fatigue or swelling may be minimized upon use.

Source: Katrina Eng, Pharmacist, Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore

More information and advice can be obtained from your pharmacist. Send your questions to sthealth@sph.com.sg.

Reference: MIMS 2003 3^rd Edition; Futuro Product Literature, BNF 48 Edition