As we step into a new year, prioritising preventative healthcare is one of the most powerful steps you can take for your long-term wellbeing. In our fast-paced lives, serious conditions can develop silently, making regular check-ups a vital tool for staying in control of your health.
Five Proactive Screenings for 2026
Rather than waiting for symptoms to appear, adopting a proactive approach with these five essential health tests can help identify potential issues early, when they are often more manageable. Here is your guide to the key screenings to consider this year.
1. The Vital Blood Pressure Check
Monitoring your blood pressure is a fundamental yet frequently overlooked health metric. Dr Dominic Greenyer, a GP and director at The Health Suite in Leicester, advises that a good benchmark is for those aged 40 and above to have their reading taken at least once annually.
You can use a home monitor for a reading that reflects your normal state, or visit your GP or a local pharmacy. A reading above 140/90 indicates raised blood pressure and warrants a GP discussion, while anything over 180/110 requires immediate medical attention.
Why is this so crucial? Dr Greenyer highlights that even slightly elevated pressure increases the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can also accelerate kidney wear and damage small blood vessels in the brain, eyes, and kidneys.
2. The Comprehensive Eyesight Examination
Regular eye tests are about much more than updating your glasses prescription. Denise Voon, clinical adviser to the College of Optometrists, explains that they ensure any vision or eye health issues are detected and treated as early as possible.
Those eligible for a free NHS sight test can typically have one every two years, or more frequently if recommended. Ms Voon notes that conditions can arise at any age, from childhood myopia to age-related presbyopia and macular degeneration from our 40s onwards.
Booking your regular test, practising healthy screen habits, and wearing prescribed glasses are simple steps to safeguard clearer, healthier eyesight for the future.
3. The Non-Negotiable Dental Check-Up
Your oral health is a window to your overall wellbeing and should not be neglected in any health MOT. Nyree Whitley, chief clinical officer at mydentist, stresses the importance of regular appointments.
While those with good oral health may only need to see a dentist every 12 to 24 months, more frequent visits might be necessary for others. The consequences of skipping check-ups can be significant.
"Without a regular check-up, conditions such as gum disease, tooth decay and mouth cancer can go undetected," Ms Whitley notes. She adds that while mouth cancer can affect anyone, tobacco and alcohol use increase the risk. Early detection is critical for improving survival rates for oral cancers.
4. The Informative Cholesterol Blood Test
High cholesterol typically presents no symptoms, so a blood test arranged through your GP is the only way to uncover it. Dr Greenyer explains that high cholesterol is indicated by a total cholesterol above five mmol/L, LDL above three, and HDL below one.
Management often involves regular exercise, including resistance training, and avoiding processed foods and fizzy drinks. The test's importance lies in what it signals.
"High cholesterol is a sign of metabolic dysfunction," Dr Greenyer states. It acts as an indicator of underlying health issues and is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, strokes, and blood vessel disease.
5. The Life-Saving NHS Cancer Screenings
The NHS runs three national cancer screening programmes that are invitations to proactive care. Women aged 50 to 71 registered with a GP are invited for breast cancer mammograms every three years. Anyone with a cervix aged 25 to 64 is invited for cervical screening every five years.
Additionally, bowel cancer screening is conducted via the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), a home test kit sent by post to those aged 50 to 74 every two years to check for hidden blood.
The value of these programmes cannot be overstated. "Early detection can help to find cancer at earlier stages which usually is more treatable," emphasises Dr Greenyer. Taking up these invitations when they arrive is a powerful act of preventative healthcare.
Making these five checks a priority for 2026 is an investment in your future self. By taking simple, proactive steps now, you can gain peace of mind and play an active role in maintaining your long-term health and quality of life.
