- With Mayo Clinic emeritus hypertension specialist
Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D.
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Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D.
Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D.
Dr. Sheldon Sheps, emeritus professor of medicine and former chair of the Hypertension Division in the Department of Medicine at Mayo Clinic, has been with Mayo Clinic since 1960.
Dr. Sheps, a Winnipeg, Manitoba, native, is board certified in internal medicine and specializes in hypertension and peripheral vascular diseases. He developed a multidisciplinary approach with specially trained nurses, dietitians, technicians and educators to help form a team approach to the treatment of patients with abnormal blood pressure.
"I have always believed in involving the patient and family in their health care," he says. "I have asked for their understanding of the illness and issues and for participation in decisions. The Web is a natural extension of that, and now many more people can be informed."
Dr. Sheps chaired the sixth working group, and participated in the fourth, fifth and seventh groups, that developed the then-latest guidelines for hypertension under the auspices of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). He helped write the latest American Heart Association (AHA) report on blood pressure measurement. He chaired an AHA group that produced an online accreditation for blood pressure measurement for health professionals. He has co-authored books, newsletters, CD-ROMs and other Mayo Clinic health information material and joined Mayo Clinic's Web team in 1998. He was medical editor-in-chief of both editions of the "Mayo Clinic on High Blood Pressure" book; the last edition was published in 2003. He was also medical editor-in-chief of "Mayo Clinic 5 Steps to Controlling High Blood Pressure,'' published in 2008.
He was section editor for each of the first three editions of "Hypertension Primer" for the American Heart Association.
Dr. Sheps was also chairman of the Science Base Subcommittee, National High Blood Pressure Education Program, and was a consultant to the Hypertension Initiative of the World Health Organization. In 1997, he was honored with the Individual Achievement Award on the 25th anniversary of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program of NHLBI. In 2009, he was honored as a Distinguished Mayo Alumnus.
Definition (3)
- White-coat hypertension: When blood pressure rises at the doctor's office
- Isolated systolic hypertension: A health concern?
- Blood pressure: Is it affected by weather?
Risk factors (2)
- Menopause and high blood pressure: What's the connection?
- Alcohol: Does it affect blood pressure?
Symptoms (1)
- Pulse pressure: An indicator of heart health?
Causes (5)
- Caffeine: How does it affect blood pressure?
- Anxiety: A cause of high blood pressure?
- Blood pressure readings: Why higher at home?
- see all in Causes
Complications (1)
- Hypertensive crisis: What are the symptoms?
Treatments and drugs (5)
- Calcium supplements: Do they interfere with blood pressure drugs?
- Blood pressure medications: Can they raise my triglycerides?
- Diuretics: A cause of low potassium?
- see all in Treatments and drugs
Lifestyle and home remedies (9)
- Resperate: Can it help reduce blood pressure?
- Blood pressure medication: Still necessary if I lose weight?
- High blood pressure and cold remedies: Which are safe?
- see all in Lifestyle and home remedies
Alternative medicine (1)
- L-arginine: Does it lower blood pressure?
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Question
L-arginine: Does it lower blood pressure?
Can L-arginine supplements lower blood pressure?
Answer
from Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D.
L-arginine could play a role in lowering blood pressure because a major cause of high blood pressure is narrowing of the arteries. The innermost layer of cells in your arteries releases nitric oxide to widen the arteries, and L-arginine is a source of nitric oxide in the body. In theory, taking an L-arginine supplement should reduce blood pressure. However, there's no evidence that this is true.
Also, your body usually makes all the L-arginine it needs, and taking a supplement is rarely necessary. You also get some L-arginine from foods like nuts, red meat and some dairy products.
L-arginine supplements can interact with some medications, including nitroglycerin and high blood pressure medications such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. People who have had cold sores or genital herpes also shouldn't take L-arginine supplements, because having too much L-arginine in your system can trigger the virus that causes those conditions.
If you want to reduce your blood pressure, talk to your doctor about treatment options. There are many proven treatments for high blood pressure, such as achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, increasing physical activity, and reducing the amount of salt in your diet. If such lifestyle changes aren't enough, your doctor may prescribe medication.
If you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor before starting any new herbal or nutritional supplements.
Next questionWhite-coat hypertension: When blood pressure rises at the doctor's office
- L-arginine. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed March 23, 2009.
- Arginine: Natural drug information. Lexi-Interact (computer program). Hudson, Ohio: Lexi-Comp, Inc.; 2009. http://www.lexi.com/. Accessed March 24, 2009.
- Siani A, et al. Blood pressure and metabolic changes during dietary L-arginine supplementation in humans. American Journal of Hypertension. 2000;13:547.
