Many flight attendants swear by the benefits of compression socks for travel —but given the strict airline dress codes, many female flight attendants can’t wear socks to work and must don pantyhose or stockings instead. Fortunately, there are compression pantyhose available that offer all the benefits of compression socks while still meeting airline dress codes.
Here are six solid reasons female flight attendants should look into compression pantyhose:
They Improve Venous blood flow.
There are more than 60,000 miles of blood vessels in the human body, and it takes a lot of work for your body to keep pumping blood through this vital system every single second. Whenever you sit or stand for long periods of time, as flight attendants do, gravity pulls on your blood, slowing your circulation and decreasing its efficacy. Compression pantyhose provide gentle, graduated pressure that keeps the blood moving through your veins and helps fight against gravity’s adverse effects.
They Decrease Your Chances of Blood Clots.
Frequent flyers, including flight attendants, are at risk for a serious condition called deep vein thrombosis, which occurs when a blood clot forms in the deep veins of the body, often in the legs. If such a clot breaks loose, it can result in a pulmonary embolism or a sudden blockage in a lung artery, which can have severe and even fatal effects. Sitting still for a long time increases your chances of getting a DVT, but thankfully, compression pantyhose help reduce the odds that clots will form by keeping your blood moving.
They Combat Varicose and Spider Veins.
Varicose and spider veins develop when the one-way valves in your veins become weak or damaged. When the valves malfunction, blood pools and the veins become dark or swollen and twisted. Varicose veins may be blue, red or skin-colored and often bulge out from the skin. They can also be irritating and even painful. Spider veins are usually red or purple and lay flat against the skin. Compression pantyhose decrease the chances of your blood pooling, which in turn reduces the odds that you will develop varicose or spider veins. If you’re already starting to see these veins, it’s not too late. Wearing compression stockings can help stop their progress and alleviate existing symptoms.
They Improve Muscle Energy.
Your arteries carry nutrient-rich, oxygenated blood throughout your body, while your veins bring depleted blood back to the lungs to be replenished. In other words, the better your circulation, the faster and more efficiently your muscles will be supplied with new nutrients. This means that your muscles will recover faster after a long shift on your feet, and they’ll feel energized for longer periods of time. If your legs feel heavy and tired all the time, compression pantyhose can help combat that sluggishness by keeping your circulation humming along.
They Reduce Swelling.
Flight attendants spend much of their day standing on their feet, often in heels, punctuated by breaks for sitting. Whether you’re standing or sitting, gravity still pulls down on your blood, lymph and other fluids, which can lead to swelling in the feet and lower legs, a common complaint among flight attendants. 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.
They Fit with Airline Dress Codes.
Each airline has its own very particular dress code for its cabin crew, and many women are required to wear skirts with pantyhose. Thankfully, compression pantyhose come in a range of opacities and shades that look just like regular stockings, so you’ll be sure to find a product that complies with your airline’s particular dress codes. Manufacturers of compression stockings know that flight attendants are some of their most loyal customers, and they offer compression pantyhose in classic uniform colors such as grey, black, white and many shades of beige and brown. Because of the many options available, you’ll be able to follow airline dress codes and receive the benefits of compression therapy all at once.
These six benefits make a compelling case for why female flight attendants should wear compression pantyhose during their shifts. Wearing compression pantyhose will help your legs look and feel great whenever you take to the skies.
Kaki Zell- Vice President of Sales, Marketing, eCommerce at Legs-4-Life LLC Kaki holds aBachelor of Sciencedegreein BusinessAdministrationandManagement from VirginiaPolytechnic Institute andState University. She’sbeenworking in the medical device industry for over11yearsand currently serves on the Board ofDirectors for theGreensboroScience Center.
Written November2018 |Page last updated November2021
Sources:
Cleveland Clinic. "Heart & Blood Vessels: Blood Flow"
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/17059-how-does-blood-flow-through-your-body
MedlinePlus. "Deep Vein Thrombosis"
https://medlineplus.gov/deepveinthrombosis.html
Office on Women's Health. "Varicose veins and spider veins"
https://www.womenshealth.gove/a-z-topics/varicose-veins-and-spider-veins
Greetings, I'm Kaki Zell, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and eCommerce at Legs-4-Life LLC, and I bring over 11 years of experience in the medical device industry. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Management from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. My expertise in compression therapy and deep understanding of the benefits it offers positions me well to discuss the advantages of compression pantyhose for female flight attendants.
Let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Venous Blood Flow:
- Compression pantyhose apply gentle, graduated pressure to the legs, aiding venous blood flow.
- The human body has over 60,000 miles of blood vessels, and maintaining efficient blood circulation is crucial.
- Long periods of sitting or standing, common for flight attendants, can impede circulation due to gravity, but compression pantyhose counteract these effects.
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Blood Clot Prevention:
- Compression pantyhose reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a serious condition associated with long periods of immobility.
- DVT involves blood clot formation in deep veins, posing the risk of pulmonary embolism if a clot breaks loose.
- Compression therapy helps keep blood circulating, lowering the likelihood of clot formation.
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Varicose and Spider Vein Management:
- Weakening or damage to vein valves can lead to varicose and spider veins, but compression pantyhose decrease the chances of blood pooling, preventing these conditions.
- Compression stockings can halt the progress of existing varicose veins and alleviate symptoms.
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Muscle Energy Improvement:
- Better circulation facilitated by compression pantyhose ensures efficient supply of oxygenated blood to muscles, aiding in quicker recovery after prolonged periods on feet.
- Enhanced circulation contributes to sustained muscle energy, combating fatigue and sluggishness.
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Reduction of Swelling:
- Compression pantyhose combat swelling by gently squeezing the legs and encouraging fluid movement.
- Flight attendants, who spend much time on their feet, benefit from the prevention of fluid accumulation, reducing swelling in the lower legs and feet.
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Compliance with Airline Dress Codes:
- Compression pantyhose come in various opacities and shades, meeting airline dress codes that often require cabin crew, including female flight attendants, to wear skirts with pantyhose.
- Manufacturers offer a range of colors, ensuring compatibility with diverse airline uniform requirements.
In conclusion, the evidence-backed benefits of compression pantyhose make a compelling case for female flight attendants to incorporate them into their uniform. These specialized garments not only comply with strict airline dress codes but also contribute to the overall well-being and comfort of flight attendants during their demanding shifts.
