Tight Leg Treatment in Congestive Heart Failure

Tight leg treatment for congestive heart failure is called compression therapy. It is used to treat varicose veins, venous ulcers, chronic venous insufficiency and to prevent thrombosis, a risk factor for those diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Discuss the options with your doctor. Tight leg treatment is not used in cases of decompensated congestive heart failure or severe peripheral artery disease.

Uses

• Relieve stress on vein walls by using compression stockings or wrapping elastic bandages around the lower legs. Tight leg treatments help retain the structure of veins, reducing the strain on the heart. Compression is also useful in preventing blood from backing up into veins while deoxygenated blood returns to the heart and lungs to reoxygenate.

Forms of Compression

• Compression to legs is offered through compression stockings that reach to the knee or thigh, as suggested by a physician, or traditional elastic bandages. Bandaging or wrapping should be done only after approval and instruction from a physician. Understand the difference in compression stockings used for congestive heart failure patients and for those diagnosed with lymphedema.

Reducing Swelling

• Compression stockings or tight leg wrappings are also useful in reducing edema, or swelling caused by a buildup of fluids, which also stresses the heart. In addition to wearing compression stockings or wrappings, patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure are told to keep their legs at or above heart level for a certain amount of time every day. That helps relieve pressure on the veins and the heart and encourages fluids to return into the circulatory system instead of pooling in the lower legs.