Varicose veins in children and young adults

Varicose veins are a common condition in adults, but children and young adults can also suffer from it. Although most people believe that venous diseases are acquired by standing for long periods of time, vein experts such as Charles Acher, Allen Hamdan, and Raymond Little argue that heredity actually plays the largest role in determining who is most prone to have such condition. Young people who have a history of venous disease in their family can therefore be genetically predisposed with conditions like varicose veins.

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Varicose vein is a dilated or enlarged vein that develops when the valves in the vein no longer function properly or when blood volume in the vein increases. Varicose veins develop most commonly in the legs, but can also occur in the anus, esophagus, and testes in males.

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When young people develop venous reflux, it is highly probable that the disease can be successfully treated. Many clinics offer highly advanced treatments that offer long-lasting benefits. One of these is the VNUS Closure, a procedure that preserves the muscular wall of the veins to allow the surface veins to recede. For patients who still have residual surface veins after VNUS, micro-phlebectomy can be an excellent treatment option.

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The occurrence of varicose veins in younger patients should not be a cause of panic. Many treatment options are widely available to treat this condition. Children can still resume with their normal activities even in such situation.

This website offers more information about about varicose veins.

What Is Deep Vein Thrombosis?

From nhlbi.nih.gov. Click here for the full article and animation.

Deep vein thrombosis (throm-BO-sis), or DVT, is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in the body. Blood clots occur when blood thickens and clumps together.
Most deep vein blood clots occur in the lower leg or thigh. They also can occur in other parts of the body.

A blood clot in a deep vein can break off and travel through the bloodstream. The loose clot is called an embolus (EM-bo-lus). It can travel to an artery in the lungs and block blood flow. This condition is called pulmonary embolism (PULL-mun-ary EM-bo-lizm), or PE.

PE is a very serious condition. It can damage the lungs and other organs in the body and cause death.
Blood clots in the thighs are more likely to break off and cause PE than blood clots in the lower legs or other parts of the body. Blood clots also can form in veins closer to the skin's surface. However, these clots won't break off and cause PE.

Dr. Raymond Little: Varicose veins during pregnancy

This Dr. Raymond Little blog entry talks about the connection between varicose veins and pregnancy.

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Pregnancy brings many changes in a woman’s body, most of which cover more than just the tummy getting bigger. The body adjusts to make way for the baby, sometimes resulting to disadvantageous physical changes for the mother. These unfavorable changes include the appearance of varicose veins.

During pregnancy, the body produces extra volumes of blood to make sure that the fetus gets enough nutrients to survive. This, however, puts more pressure on the blood vessels, especially on the veins in the legs which work against gravity to push all the extra blood back up to the heart. This pressure is the reason why varicose veins often come out during pregnancy.

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But Dr. Raymond Little and other medical experts believe that expecting women should not be scared of having varicose veins for there are precautionary measures that can prevent the condition from developing. For one, they can do some light exercises to make sure that the blood will keep on circulating. This will make it easier for the blood to go back to the heart without the veins in the lower extremities exerting too much force. Exercising can also help women in keeping the recommended weight for their pregnancy.

Aside from working out, the following can also prevent varicose veins during pregnancy:
• Keeping the feet elevated
• Wearing compression stockings
• Avoiding heavy lifting
• Getting a daily dose of vitamin C

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Learn more about Dr. Raymond Little and the treatments for varicose veins by visiting www.veinmedispa.com.

Dr. Raymond Little: Five classifications of the human vein

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Dr. Raymond Little is the founder and CEO of The Vein Institute & MediSpa in Northern Houston. The medical center specializes on vascular medicine and utilizes the necessary technology and knowledge for patients to have the highest possible quality of medical service.

The vein, an important component of vascular medicine, is more than just a large web of bimolecular threads in the body. It functions as the main conduit for the blood and one of the lifelines for every living organism. Generally, it is classified into five categories:

Superficial vein
Found close to the surface of the body, superficial veins are important for cooling the body. When the body is very warm, they jolt blood from the deep veins, facilitating heat transfer to their surroundings.

Dr. Raymond Little received his medical degree from Boston University and completed a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

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Deep vein
Deep veins carry the vast majority of the blood and are almost always beside an artery with the same name (e.g., the femoral vein is beside the femoral artery).

Communicating vein
Also known as perforator veins, communicating veins directly connect superficial veins to deep veins and have valves that only allow blood to flow between these blood vessels.

Pulmonary vein
Carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart, pulmonary veins are unusual because almost all other veins carry deoxygenated blood.

Systemic vein
Systemic veins are blood vessels that drain deoxygenated blood from most of the body, as opposed to pulmonary veins.

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More information about Dr. Raymond Little can be read at www.veinmedispa.com.

Vein men: Dr. Raymond Little and male vein conditions

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Most guys think varicose veins are:


a) a woman’s problem

b) not a big deal

c) for older people only


Sorry guys, but according to vascular care specialists, like Dr. Raymond Little, varicose veins and other vein disorders affect men, too. In fact, studies reveal that as much as 56% of men suffer from varicose veins.


Varicose veins are gnarled, enlarged veins. Any vein may become varicose, but the veins most commonly affected are those in the legs and feet. While most men may think varicose veins are cosmetic concerns, ballooned veins may hinder daily activity. And those who suffered from varicose veins know that the pain sometimes can be debilitating. Signs that one may have varicose veins include:


• Veins that are dark purple or blue in color

• Veins that appear twisted and bulging, often like cords on the legs

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Vein specialists, like Dr. Raymond Little, note that when painful signs and symptoms occur, there may be:


• An achy or heavy feeling in the legs

• Burning, throbbing, muscle cramping, and swelling in the lower legs

• Worsened pain after sitting or standing for a long time

• Itching around one or more of the veins

• Skin ulcers near the ankle, which can mean a serious form of vascular disease that requires immediate medical attention


Doctors note that by the time they reach their 70s, more than 40% of men are affected with varicose veins. Self-care such as exercising can help ease the pain of varicose veins and prevent them from getting worse. But if a man is concerned about how the veins look and feel and self-care measures haven’t stopped the condition from getting worse, then it is time to see specialists, like Dr. Raymond Little.

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More information about Dr. Little is available at www.veinmedispa.com.

Passing out: Dr. Raymond Little on syncope

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Fainting, medically known as syncope, results from a drop in blood pressure or heart rate. According to medical experts, like Dr. Raymond Little of The Vein Institute & MediSpa, fainting may occur because of certain triggers, such as dehydration, stress, or exhaustion. Meanwhile, recurrent syncope may be the sign of a heart condition; and those who suffer from such should immediately consult their physician to determine the cause of their fainting and to receive treatment.

Fainting, also called syncope, is a sudden, brief loss of consciousness and posture caused by decreased blood flow to the brain. It can be caused by various medical conditions, which include heart problems such as irregular heartbeats, seizures, panic or anxiety attacks, low blood sugar, anemia, and problems with how the nervous system regulates blood pressure. Doctors, like Raymond Little, also note that some types of fainting seem to run in families. While fainting may indicate a particular medical condition, sometimes it may occur in an otherwise healthy individual. Fainting is also a particular problem for the elderly, who may suffer serious injuries from falls when they faint. Most episodes are very brief. In most cases, the individual who has fainted regains complete consciousness within just a few minutes.

According to statistics, fainting is a common problem, accounting for 3 percent of emergency room visits and 6 percent of hospital admissions. It can happen to otherwise healthy people.

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Prior to passing out, one may experience the following:


• Feel weak, dizzy, lightheaded, or nauseated

• Sweat and turn pale

• Hear ringing and/or random, fading sounds

• Experience a visual disturbance, like everything seems “graying out”


According to doctors, like Raymond Little, such symptoms may last for a few seconds before a brief loss of consciousness occurs. Recovery from fainting is rapid, although one may initially feel nauseous and sweat profusely.

If one feels the warning signs of fainting, medical experts, like Dr. Little, suggest lying down, with the legs elevated, ideally higher than the head. It is also important to follow the doctor’s guidelines and attend all appointments to prevent future episodes of syncope.

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If you have been suffering from syncope, set an appointment with Dr. Raymond Little. Visit this website for more details.

A hearty look at Dr. Raymond Little—vascular med expert, physician extraordinaire

He’s into a challenging business, you can say that. But at the heart of it, Dr. Raymond Little, a respected cardiologist, is certainly giving a lot more.

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Dr. Little, the vein care expert from Kingwood, Texas, is not only a certified vascular health expert but also a respected cardiologist. You see, in that part of the world, he’s just always the right man for the weak of hearts. Call it heartfelt service, because that’s what he gives.



Dr. Little has actually a lot more bright, impressive lines and stats in his resume. Although he had a lot of professional affiliations to various reputable organizations, among the most notables were his stints as a member of the Board of Directors for American Heart Association (chapters in both Texas and Virginia) and on the Board of Directors for the Kingwood/Humble American Heart Association. Dr. Raymond Little is also a board-certified diplomat for the American Board of Internal Medicine-Cardiovascular Diseases and a fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

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Dr. Little has actually been treating patients with cardiovascular problems for the past eight years. If that time still looks short enough, then just look at the kind of mastery that he provides. At Kingwood Medical Center, an HCA Affiliated Hospital, he works as an interventional cardiologist. As a resident physician, he is an expert in interventional cardiology procedures, peripheral vascular interventions, pacemaker implantation, and nuclear cardiology. So far, no known patient has had a change of heart (figuratively, of course). You can also find that out in his Houston Heart & Vascular Associates clinic in Kingwood.

Dr. Little explains what he’s doing:

“I like to educate my patients and the community on other disorders, such as peripheral vascular disease. The public may not be familiar with these other disorders, but they pose a significant health risk.”

And why he’s doing it? “Vascular health involves more than the heart,” he says.

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Dr. Raymond Little might not be talking about the love thing, but at their home in Kingwood, his wife Holly and their two children might readily tell you one sure thing: he’s doing things in the right vein (Just sayin’).

To know more about Dr. Raymond Little, visit this Facebook page.

Dr. Raymond Little: And you thought varicose veins are harmless

If the veins don’t properly return blood from the lower leg to the heart, the individual can develop varicose veins. Vein disease experts, like Dr. Raymond Little, advise men and women who think that varicose veins are nothing but a cosmetic problem to seek immediate medical attention.

Approximately 60% of Americans suffer from some form of vein disorder. However, women are more affected -- 41% of women suffer from vein disorders by the time they reach their 50s. This alarming number shows that vein diseases are very common, which means that many are at the brink of experiencing possible health hazards without even knowing it.

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Although spider veins and small veins that appear near the surface of the skin are generally not a cause for alarm, they have to be managed with simple remedies and preventative measures.

Dr. Raymond Little is the founder and CEO of The Vein Institute & MediSpa in Northern Houston.

From Raymond Little

When left untreated, these small veins can grow larger and obstruct blood flow. Blood may leak through them and flow down the leg and into the wrong places. The blood then makes the veins bulge and become more visible. Bleeding under the skin, eczema-like patches, and ulcers can occur. These symptoms can worsen and may lead to the development of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). DVT is characterized by the formation of blood clots inside the deep veins of the leg. If a clot breaks off through the bloodstream, it’s called embolism. This embolism may affect the brain, heart, and lungs.

From Raymond Little

Read more of Dr. Raymond Little’s expertise in treating vein disorders at www.veinmedispa.com.

For a more beautiful you: Dr. Raymond Little and photodynamic therapy

Dr. Raymond Little and The Vein Institute & MediSpa encourage you to indulge yourself in satisfying facial rejuvenation treatments to experience a more revitalized and younger looking skin. They offer non-surgical cosmetic procedures as Botox® and dermafillers, and also provide comprehensive information, through the interactive Patient Education guide, about other facial rejuvenation solutions like the photodynamic therapy (PDT).

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PDT is a medical treatment involving the use of a photosensitizing drug and a light source. The result: an activated oxygen molecule that destroys surrounding damaged cells. This revolutionary procedure dramatically alleviates your skin problems – wrinkles, damaged or large pores, actinic keratosis, or dark pigments.

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Medical practitioners like Dr. Raymond Little can easily perform the procedure in their clinics in an outpatient setting. Basically, the process involves three steps:

1. Administration of a light-sensitizing cream, liquid, or rejuvenating drug

 2. An incubation period of about 30 minutes which can extend to a few days depending on doctor’s recommendations

 3. Exposure of the target tissue to a specific wavelength of light that works to activate the rejuvenating substance, causing the skin to peel.


Following treatment, your skin may appear sunburned or peeled off. For optimal results, you may undergo at least three treatments, depending on your skin type and condition.

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To get more information about Dr. Raymond Little’s skin care services, call (281) 312-0208 and visit www.veinmedispa.com.

Raymond Little, M.D.: What is sclerotherapy?

Varicose veins can generally be treated with self-care, like exercising, losing weight, and avoiding long periods of standing or sitting. However, for more severe cases, experts like Dr. Raymond Little may suggest a surgical procedure called sclerotherapy. What does the sclerotherapy do? This article explores the subject.

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In use since the 1930s, sclerotherapy is simple both in concept and procedure. It involves an injection of a solution (typically a salt solution) directly into the swollen vein. As the solution flows along the vein, the blood vessel’s lining gets irritated and inflamed. Over time, the vein turns into a scar tissue that eventually fades. Because there are thousands of blood vessels in the body, the loss of a few veins hardly matters, and blood finds its way to the heart through the remaining healthy vessels.

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Although sclerotherapy is a fairly safe procedure, many specialists, including Dr. Raymond Little, say that the medical intervention also carries potential risks. Some temporary side effects that may occur, which usually go away on their own within a few days to several weeks, include bruising, small skin sores, and darkened skin in the form of lines or spots. Although less common, possible sclerotherapy complications that may require treatment include: blood clot; air bubbles in the bloodstream (symptoms that may occur in this regard include headache, coughing, and nausea); and allergic reaction.

Based on numerous studies, sclerotherapy as a treatment for varicose and spider veins has an overall success rate of 50 to 80 percent. As such, sclerotherapy is generally considered as the gold standard in the treatment of leg veins.

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Dr. Raymond Little specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of varicose veins using sclerotherapy, surgical vein stripping, and other proven techniques. Visit www.veinmedispa.com to learn more.

Dr. Raymond Little: Improving female body image with sclerotherapy

For Dr. Raymond Little, the increasing number of his clients proves that women are becoming more aware of the importance of sclerotherapy. His female clients agree that sclerotherapy creates wonders not just in their appearance but also in their overall well-being, making them love and appreciate their bodies more.

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While much has been said about this miracle treatment, there are still women who have been ill-informed of the procedure. These women have been ‘owning’ their varicose veins because they dread the needle and think that they are putting their lives at risk with sclerotherapy.

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Texas-based clinic Vein Institute & MediSpa clarifies that the procedure is simple, safe, and proven effective. According to Dr. Raymond Little, the founder of the treatment center, sclerotherapy is clinically proven to treat varicose veins. It uses a very fine needle to inject a dose of sclerosing fluid directly into the veins. The sclerosing solution makes the lining of the blood vessel swell and stick together. After blood clots, the vessel becomes a scar tissue that gradually disappears. The doctor emphasizes that women are only expected to endure approximately 15 to 30-minute session of minimal discomfort before reaching the desired effect.

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The specialist says that it’s better to undergo sclerotherapy now to avoid further complications such as swelling, chronic venous insufficiency, and psychological pain.


Schedule your appointment now with Dr. Raymond Little and set yourself free from the grip of unsightly veins. Go to VeinMediSpa.com for more details.

Dr. Raymond Little: Erasing years off the skin through dermafillers

Commonly called facial wrinkles, rhytides are unpleasant and pesky for many. Good thing there are trusted health experts like Dr. Raymond Little of Vein Institute & MediSpa in Kingwood, Texas, who devote themselves in helping men and women solve this problem through facial rejuvenation services such as dermafillers.

From Raymond Little

While pampering their skin is bliss for many people, erasing years off their skin offers even more joy. Dermafillers can give this satisfaction to patients when they experience the results of the treatments. Dermafillers are used to give a more youthful appearance by reducing the occurrence of crow’s feet and laugh lines, and even smoothen out unsightly facial scars.

From Raymond Little

Which product works best?

The three most common products in the market are Radiesse, Restylane, and Juvederm. Certified physicians like Dr. Raymond Little know just when and to whom these products should be used. To maximize their full potential, there are three things to consider:
• What the skin condition is
• What the severity of the problem is
• How long the patient would want the result to last

Addressing these issues, with the help of a certified doctor, means determining what the best product is for specific patients. Aside from that, understanding the similarities and differences of all three products results to a more dramatic solution to skin aging.

From Raymond Little

When it comes to treating facial problems, Dr. Raymond Little provides a comprehensive list of services. Visit his site at www.veinmedispa.com.