If you’re like most folks, your job requires that you sit or stand for extended periods of time. Unfortunately, remaining in either of these positions for too long can result in the pooling of blood in your legs and feet. Not only are swollen ankles unattractive, the lack of proper blood circulation will make your lower extremities feel tired and achy, and can even lead to life threatening health problems.

Fortunately, you can avoid the damaging effects of prolonged sitting and standing by wearing compression socks. These specialized stockings promote blood flow back to your heart by applying the greatest amount of pressure at your ankle and becoming gradually less tight further up your leg. By making this small tweak to your wardrobe, you’ll be able to avoid the unpleasant side effects of swollen, tired, and achy feet during your long shifts at work, and prevent serious health problems from surfacing in the future.

In particular, here are the top five occupations recommended to wear compression socks:

• Desk Job

  Anyone with an occupation that requires sitting at a desk for multiple hours a day can fight the negative effects of prolonged sitting by wearing compression socks. In addition to getting up and moving around every 30 minutes, compression socks can help relieve some of the swelling and aches in your lower body.

• Flight Attendant

  Studies conducted with airline passengers have shown that wearing compression socks can successfully prevent the occurrence of blood clots during long flights. Flight attendants spend a lot of time in the air, and can benefit greatly from wearing compression socks to assist with proper blood flow.

• Cashier

Arguably, few other occupations require standing in one spot for extended periods of time than a retail cashier. Since they’re unable to walk around on a regular basis, the simple act of wearing compression socks decreases swelling and helps prevent blood clots from developing.

• Nurse

Standing for prolonged periods of time not only causes discomfort, varicose veins, and fatigue, but also decreases a nurse’s level of mental alertness. Compression socks can help alleviate these problems by keeping a nurse’s legs and feet comfortable while on duty.

• Truck Driver

Truck drivers spend 11 hours per day with much of the weight of their legs balanced on their heels, which puts them at risk for developing plantar fasciitis. Those who have this condition can wear compression socks to improve blood flow to the area to speed up the healing proc