Should I wear compression socks before or during flight?

When to put on compression socks for flying. It's recommended to start wearing compression socks before you board your flight or hop in the car for a long trip. Since it's safe to wear your travel compression socks for 16+ hours, don't worry about putting them on early in the day.



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Graduated compression stockings or socks are usually recommended for flights that last longer than 3 hours, as this is when you will start to suffer physical health issues. For short flights, you only need to wear mild compression socks with a lower compression level.

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To prevent DVT, pilots and flight attendants should wear flight socks or tights with gradient compression. Wearing compression socks help to relieve fatigue, reduce possible swelling of legs and feet and aid blood circulation.

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They Reduce Swelling. Compression pantyhose gently squeeze your legs and feet, so they simply don't leave room for the fluid to collect and cause swelling. Plus, the graduated pressure of compression stockings encourages those fluids to keep moving, which further contributes to the decrease in swelling.

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Talk to your doctor about wearing compression stockings or taking medicine before departure if you have additional risk factors for blood clots. Taking aspirin to prevent blood clots when traveling is not recommended. If you take aspirin for other reasons, check with your doctor.

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