And Just Who is Dr. Tonie Reincke?
Dr. Tonie Reincke is perhaps one of the reigning queens when it comes to patient care as a vein specialist in the city of Houston. With over three decades of her life dedicated to her profession as an Interventional Radiologist, it’s no wonder she’s been able to build an impressive career.
She climbed the ladder from Registered Nurse to Physician Assistant to serving as the chief medical director for a vein center with three locations in Houston. Dr. Reincke has made a home at the Reincke Vein Center. Founded in 2021, the doctor has used her experience working for several vein clinics to provide affordable care for the community.
Her commitment to patients goes beyond the walls of her clinic. She is dedicated to community outreach to underserved minority groups and has made her a comforting source for patient accessibility.
These efforts include advertising on Univision and Telemundo, participating in Q&A talks on VieTV, doing interviews on Great Day Houston and Houston Life, attending the LGBTQ Houston Chamber annual meeting, offering free ultrasound scans and medical consultations at The 100 Black Men of Metropolitan Houston conventions and health fairs, giving educational talks at Landon Ridge Senior Living Center, contributing time and resources to Miracles R’ Real, and volunteering at Bread of Life.
Dr. Reincke spoke with d-mars.com sharing her insight as to how minority groups can examine and take better care of their veins. In an article posted by Venous News, it was said by Peter J. Pappas (Center for Vein Restoration, Greenbelt, USA) that vein discrepancies can vary between that of Caucasians and minority groups such as Blacks and Hispanics.
When asked about her passion regarding her work, Reincke said, “Passion – a genuine desire to help others. Hearing and having patients tell me their symptoms have improved is a “win”.
According to Dr. Reincke, a study done in the 90s explored that vein disease is greater in older patients with the number one group being non-Hispanic whites in comparison to Blacks and Asians.
Have You Experienced Leg Pain?
If you’ve missed out on events due to tired and achy legs or maybe wanted to cover your legs due to bulging veins – it’s not always due to aging. While age may be a factor, you don’t have to live with it.
Many people are misdiagnosed as having skin issues or told the bulging veins are “cosmetic” and avoid getting treatment for it. However, Dr. Reincke’s specialization in the area is nothing more than a reminder as to why specialists are created. Some may think that they have a skin or an arterial issue when really, it could be a venous problem.
Obesity, age over 50, sedentary lifestyles, sitting or standing a lot, even those who are pregnant are at risk. Night cramps, restless legs, skin changes, bulging veins. Vein disease is treatable but it’s not curable. We take most commercial insurances, and additionally have customized payment plans.
“To get [our] minorities to be more proactive, she said. “We need a strong educator who takes an interest in their health and spends time explaining vein disease [and] options available to them.”
For education purposes, what are varicose veins? Dr. Reinke describes it as “Vein insufficiency, also known as vein disease, is the stretching out of the walls of the vein.”
She added, “The veins’ primary function is to bring blood back to the heart. This means that blood needs to travel up the leg against gravity whenever a person is standing or sitting.”
As for understanding the science more, the veteran medical professional broke down just how blood flow works with our veins and what leads to discrepancies making noticeable appearances that can be problematic:
- Blood needs to travel back to the heart from the legs against gravity whenever a person is standing or sitting
- Our valves makes sure that blood does not fall back down to the feet
- Vein disease is the result of veins becoming stretched out creating valves to either not meet or slow to close leading to reflux or a backwards flow in the leg(s)
- When veins are shut down, other veins pick up that blood and take it back to the heart
“Vein disease patients can have visible indicators that let the patient know that they may have vein disease,” Dr. Reincke described. “Spider veins, bulging ropey varicose veins, skin discoloration at the bottom of the leg, and ulcers at the bottom of the leg are some of the visual indicators of vein disease.”
She also mentioned having a better level of awareness for yourself in self-care for your veins. “It is Important to understand [this] as it is as any other chronic disease that has potential long-term effects and complications.” Treatments are performed in an office setting and are minimally invasive. Patients are back to their normal activities the same day with zero down time.
The business owner says that vein disease is “typically” hereditary. “If one parent has the disease then the person has a 50% risk of having the disease,” according to Dr. Reincke. “This doubles when both parents have it. Vein disease can get worse through things such as age, obesity, pregnancies, standing and sitting for extended periods of time, and smoking. While patients may not notice vein disease in their parents it can also skip generations.”
While varicose veins may not be at the forefront of most health conversations, Dr. Reincke has made it her mission to spread awareness and enable people to be more knowledgeable. Her programs of service that she’s currently promoting include the Greater Houston Black Chamber, 100 Black Men, Mocha Man (Black Men’s Health Fair sponsor), Univision, Telemundo, VieTV, LGBTQ Chamber, Landon Ridge Retirement Center, Miracles R’ Real, and Bread of Life.
“My duty as a MD is to educate the community about vein disease and long-term effects/treatment options. I take pride in doing so,” she said. “I’m proud to be a patient advocate.” Part of her business-related goals include minority outreach and delivering on her efforts for educating and quality treatment for minorities.
She’s proud to have opened her solo practice located in Sugar Land. Though she’s had to persevere by not only being a minority but the first in her family to go to college, Dr. Reincke is cognizant of her weaknesses. “I’d say it lies in my desire to help everyone, wanting to help relieve pain/discomfort in chronically ill patients. It’s not always a realistic expectation [and] it hurts my heart.”
Nevertheless, the vein specialist is literally “what the doctor ordered” for unique conditions and a remedy made for feeling good about oneself.
Check out the good doctor at Reincke Vein Center for any and all information.
