What should a patient with chronic venous insufficiency do to help prevent ulcerations?

A patient with chronic venous insufficiency can significantly benefit from increasing leg elevation and wearing support stockings to help prevent ulcerations.

Elevating the legs helps improve venous return by reducing venous pressure and pooling in the lower extremities, thus alleviating the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency. This elevation assists gravity in aiding the blood flow back towards the heart. It also helps to reduce swelling and can promote healing in patients already experiencing skin changes or ulcerations.

Wearing support stockings provides graduated compression, which helps to enhance venous circulation. The compression exerted by these stockings aids in limiting venous dilation, reducing venous stasis, and ultimately lowering the risk of ulceration. This combined approach of elevation and compression is widely supported by clinical evidence and is a standard recommendation in the management of chronic venous insufficiency.

The other choices relate to strategies that could be detrimental or less effective in managing the condition. Reducing fluid intake, for instance, does not directly target venous pressure or improve circulation and could lead to dehydration. Avoiding leg elevation contradicts the foundational principles of managing venous insufficiency. Limiting mobility can lead to increased stasis and worsen the overall condition, as movement is often beneficial for venous return