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Is It True That Stockings Or Tightening My Leg Muscles Can Prevent Me From Fainting?

Dr. Sam Asirvatham answers the question: 'How Do Stockings Prevent Fainting?'

ByABC News
November 24, 2008, 9:47 AM

— -- Question: Is it true that stockings or tightening my leg muscles can prevent me from fainting?

Answer :You may have heard from your doctors that whenever you're about to faint, to lie down. The reason this works is blood that's being pooled in your legs is now allowed to return to your heart. Another way to do this is to use stockings that go up to your waist, like pantyhose. These stockings prevent blood from pooling in the legs and, in fact, makes it like you're lying down even when you're standing up. To that extent, it'll prevent you from fainting. Some studies have shown that stockings alone can prevent 90 percent of fainting episodes.