Cardiologist Oliver Guttman shares some excellent dietary options to prevent stroke

The kitchen holds some of the best natural solutions for treating high blood pressure

The majority of advice on managing high blood pressure has focused on cutting salt and exercising more - but a simpler factor that people may be missing entirely is not drinking enough water.

Double board-certified doctor of clinical nutrition, Dr Megan Lyons, told GB News: "Almost everyone I see with high blood pressure is dehydrated."

Proper hydration, she explained, may be one of the most overlooked ways to reduce stress on the cardiovascular system and manage hypertension at home.

Put simply, dehydration causes blood volume to drop and the vessels to constrict to maintain pressure - ultimately forcing the heart to work harder.

Scientists believe that this factor alone could cause blood pressure to increase over time.

Dr Lyons continued: "Other liquids that can help include various types of tea.

"Hibiscus tea is widely noted for helping lower blood pressure, while green tea can also be beneficial.

"Adaptogenic teas like Tulsi tea or chamomile support lowering blood pressure, [as do] some juices, like beet juice or pomegranate juice."

The latter two help with nitric oxide dilation, the doctor explained, though it's important to ensure the juices are real and free of added sugar.

It's also worth noting that dietary changes like these should only ever complement - not replace - prescribed treatments for high blood pressure.

Exercise is the next big factor to consider; particularly aerobic activities like cycling, running, swimming and dancing, according to Dr Lyons.

The goal here is to strengthen the heart so it can pump blood more efficiently, which in turn reduces pressure on the arterial walls.

Guidance from health bodies such as the NHS typically recommends approximately 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week.

How common is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is not just a silent killer, it is also a largely ignored one.

The World Health Organization estimates that hypertension contributes to more than 10 million deaths a year, with almost 1.4 billion adults living with the condition.

More than 600 million of those cases go untreated, whether through lack of awareness of reluctance to seek help.

Every GP surgery in the UK holds at least one blood pressure monitor - known as a sphygmomanometer, but anyone wanting their own can buy one for under £20.