- 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.
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Question
Leg pain after prolonged standing or sitting: A concern?
In the last year, I've noticed my legs have been aching, especially after I've been sitting or standing for a while. I'm 55 years old and have no known health problems. Should I be concerned about this new aching?
Answer
from Sheldon G. Sheps, M.D.
New, persistent aching in the legs, as you have described, certainly warrants a visit to your doctor for medical evaluation. It can have many causes. However, new leg pain or aching that occurs after prolonged standing or sitting suggests a possible buildup of fluid in the leg veins (venous congestion).
Venous congestion can occur when the valves in your leg veins don't work properly, such as due to prior inflammation of a vein (phlebitis). As a result, these veins don't efficiently return blood from your legs to your heart — allowing blood to leak and pool in your legs and feet. Varicose veins are another common cause of venous congestion.
Signs and symptoms of venous congestion include leg pain or aching, which is usually more noticeable after quiet sitting or standing. This may also be accompanied by swelling. Being in poor physical condition can contribute to these symptoms. Marked changes in the height of the heels of your shoes also can trigger leg pain.
A doctor can make a diagnosis based on your medical history and a physical examination. If the cause of leg pain is venous congestion, treatment may include:
- Wearing compression hosiery
- Increasing physical activity
- Elevating your legs above heart level for 15 to 30 minutes when they're aching
