Finding the Right Fabric for What You Need

There are some basic things that will help your body deal with blood pressure issues. Compression garments are a fast and easy way to improve your blood pressure/blood flow and cut down your orthostatic symptoms when you are up and about doing things. You control when you put them on and when they come off!

When you have to go out and want a little extra help, these can work wonders. They help when you have an all-day outing or doctor appointments or a full-school or work day. They can add a little extra when your symptoms are bothering you a little more, when you are rebuilding your fluids or on those vulnerable days before your period (or the first days of when your symptoms are more bothersome).

Finding the right fabric or material

Important Questions To Ask When You Start to Wear/Buy Compression Garments:Garments that stretch and compress are already heavier, thicker – and warmer. There are 3 things that are important to being able to wear a garment daily or when you need. Check to see if it is too warm? Does it make you sweat? Does your skin get sweaty underneath the garment?

Garments to avoid: Some of the garments are advertised to increase heat/temperature underneath them. They are usually advertised to help lose weight. Generally, these would be garments to avoid. They are not likely to be comfortable to wear all day every day. If you decide to try it out, wear it everyday for a number of days and see how comfortable it is and whether you have any skin problems with it. Do this soon after you buy it so you can return it if it doesn't work for you.

Why this matters: If a material holds heat, that means the skin underneath gets hot. When the skin gets hot, it sweats. If you keep wearing it, you can develop skin problems under the corset or binder, like rashes. The skin can also get an infection, especially yeast. The skin normally has organisms (bacteria, yeast) on it but they stay in balance, don’t grow too much and don’t cause a problem. Many organisms (especially yeast) like warm and moist areas. They start to grow and cause problems, like a rash, itching and pain.

Find the right fabric/material: Many materials like cotton and rubber don’t “breathe”. A material that “breathes” means that it doesn't hold on to sweat. The ideal material “wicks” the moisture away from the body. The moisture goes out to the surface where it can evaporate and dry out. Many garments designed for active sports like cross-country skiing "wick" moisture away. They help keep the skin cooler and dryer. The challenge is that the material that wicks usually would be loose and would not be a "binder". You might have to get a light fabric that wicks sweat away from your skin to wear underneath the binder. This is one of the "experiment" situations to see what works best for you.

Tricks to Avoid Dizziness

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References

1. Figueroa JJ, Basford JR, Low PA. Preventing and treating orthostatic hypotension: As easy as A, B, C. Cleve Clin J Med. 2010 May;77(5):298-306.  Abstract.  Article PDF.
2. Low PA and Singer W. Update on Management of Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension. Lancet Neurol. 2008 May; 7(5): 451–458. Abstract. Article PDF.
3. Smit AA, Wieling W, Fujimura J, et al. Use of lower abdominal compression to combat orthostatic hypotension in patients with autonomic dysfunction. Clin Auton Res 2004;14:167-75.  Abstract.
4. Rowe, Peter. Compression Garments handout.