M&S leggings causing heart attack symptoms

[Mumaof0]

Ok so hear me out.
Yesterday I wore a pair of M&S compression leggings (sort of gym leggings but called compression leggings and felt a bit like compression sock material) for the first time. Whole day I was fine. When I went to pain I started to get a pain in my left arm like when you've had an injection, like exactly how it feels when you've had an injection, plus a numb and cold feeling through the whole arm and a sort of pulsating twitch in the spot where the pain was (the spot where you'd have an injection in your arm, that's the only way I can describe where it is).

Then I started to feel strange so got up to go to splash water on my face, I looked in the mirror and was white as a sheet and collapsed in the bathroom. I went and got help (and collapsed again on the way). Then we took my blood pressure and it was very low, I usually have low blood pressure which makes me faint after every blood test but I've never collapsed randomly before.

All the symptoms I was googling said heart attack which massively freaked me out (should add I'm 21) especially at the thought of being taken to hospital on my own in these times. I sat up for about an hour with a family member until I felt I wasn't feeling any worse (still had slight arm pain and numbness) and went to bed. All I can think was it could be something to do with wearing the compression leggings all day causing some sort of circulation problem. Am I being batshit please be honest. Please excuse my dire story telling skills

Don't blame your self, OP.
There's nothing in that M&S description to say you should ONLY wear them during your workout because.... People aren't to know or assume there could be health problems from wearing them at other times.

It's like saying swimsuits are have been cleverly designed etc, yet people
wouldn't expect a swimsuit to be unsuitable to wear whenever.

@SpillTheTeaa well I feel like a bit of a div, but also a bit worried that workout gear could be harmful anyway if that makes sense? Like anyone might buy these and end up wearing them all day and they could be harmful

Glad you're feeling better.

Glad you’re ok OP!

Got me thinking though, no wonder I feel a big I’ll sometimes after trying to squash myself in to my skinny 👖😳

A bit ill

@TopShelf My thoughts exactly! If I was wearing a pair of prescription compression stockings like my grandad wears all day then I'd understand, but I thought people wear gym wear as casual wear all the time don't they? Especially as they're from a high street shop and not a special health wear gym wear place

@Hunnybears Haha! These were weirdly comfy as well, and bloody expensive for a pair of leggings I'll only get to wear once lol

Fucking hell. Let us know what they say. I find M&S clothes cut for a really weird shaped body so I can’t wear their stuff. They’ve gone all cheap and crappy anyway on the material that is.

I was going to say, to be fair to you OP it doesn’t say anywhere in there that you should only wear them during a workout! It might be common sense (I don’t know, the idea of compression clothes sounds terrifying to me) but it doesn’t say it on their website.

Glad you’re feeling better now!

@HalfTermHalfTerm that's the thing I bought them online and didn't think anything of it, got them and thought the material was thicker than I'd expected but they fit well and were comfy and thought nothing of it. Only last night I started to think were they actually meant to affect your circulation

www.potsuk.org/compression_clothing

According to this website, compression tights are advised for people with low blood pressure, particularly when standing.

It does state they're only for workout. 'Our special Go Seamless zonal compression leggings from the Goodmove range have been cleverly designed to support targeted areas during your workout and improve performance.'

That doesn't say anything about only wearing them during a workout It explains the benefits of doing so, but it doesn't say they shouldn't be worn at any other time.

I'm glad you're feeling better OP - that sounds really scary

Nowhere does the M&S description mention that it should ONLY be worn during a workout/for short periods.

It’s like wearing a waist trainer all day though, you shouldn’t do it as it will cause problems. Particularly if you have underlying health conditions that make you more susceptible than the average person.

People wear leggings all the time now, but not specifically compression gym wear

discuss this with your doctor please OP.

My thoughts exactly @vanillandhoney and @LazyFace I read the description as typical M&S always going on about how moisture wicking and designed-to-fit-your-body their clothes are, it didn't read as a health warning. This is so typical lol the one time I treat myself to some clothes next thing you know I'm in bed googling heart attack symptoms

It’s like wearing a waist trainer all day though, you shouldn’t do it as it will cause problems.

If long-term wear is going to cause problems, the retailer should make that clear on the website and on the product description.

@Soontobe60 I read that too. I don't have blood pressure problems or anything but my BP always come up on the lower side and I'm the sort to faint whenever I have my blood taken and it's like my body goes into shock and everyone just assumes I'm scared of needles. I have worn compression socks for riding before and never had problems which is weird

It might have been the leggings but it might not. You really need to get checked.

The weather is very warm at the moment and heat makes blood vessels expand. If you are wearing compression garments (why?) then this could cause an issue with circulation and blood pressure. Were you hydrating properly? Not sure why you would wear compression clothes all day.

@vanillandhoney Yes, this. If it is the cause of these symptoms it seems odd that they would just be advertised alongside the other leggings on the site with no sort of warning. Didn't realise it was common knowledge not to wear them all day, I hardly knew what compression clothes were other than prescribed stockings which you get from a pharmacy

Get some medical advice - it would be good for you to have ecg. Maybe ring your gp.

@EstebanTheMagnificent This was last night and the symptoms have gone now, do you think I should still get checked? I'm also isolating with elderly people I live with so if I went out to get checked I couldn't come back potentially infect them so I'd be homeless :( another dilemma

@Namenic Do you think they would make me have ECG as a 21 year old (sorry if that sounds stupid). symptoms have all gone now as of this morning I'm feeling fine, aghh

Really silly to wear anything compressive all day.

Ring 111 if you think you need to but given the situation I would fill the online form in first then do as it says.