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In a fast-paced world where health often takes a back seat, prevention has never been more important.
Many serious illnesses occur quietly and with little warning, making regular checkups one of the most powerful tools for maintaining long-term health.
As the new year begins, these five essential health tests should be at the top of your 2026 priority list…
1. Blood pressure check
“Checking blood pressure is a good first step as many people don’t have it monitored,” said GP and director Dr Dominic Greenyer. Wellness Suite exist Leicester. “A good benchmark is for people aged 40 and over to have their blood pressure checked at least once a year.”
All you need is a blood pressure monitor.
“Checking your blood pressure at home when you are calmer is often more reflective of your normal blood pressure,” Greenyer says. “But if you don’t have a blood pressure monitor then you can ask your GP to do it for you, or many pharmacies do this too.
“Any reading over 140 over 90 indicates that your blood pressure is elevated and you will need to make an appointment with your GP to discuss this. Any reading over 180 over 110 requires immediate medical attention.”
Why it’s important:
“Even slightly higher blood pressure can increase the risk of heart disease, which increases the risk of future heart attacks and strokes,” Greenyer emphasized. “If high blood pressure is not controlled, the kidneys will wear out more quickly and can even cause damage to the small blood vessels in the brain, eyes and kidneys.”
2. Vision test
“Having regular eye exams means any problems with your vision or eye health can be caught, diagnosed and treated early,” says Denise Voon, clinical consultant at the centre. college of optometrists. “During your eye exam, your optometrist will check to see if you have any vision or eye health problems and prescribe glasses or contact lenses if needed.”
Get it for free if you qualify NHS Depending on your vision or eye test, you may be tested every two years, or more frequently if your ophthalmologist or optometrist recommends it. NHS website.
Why it’s important:
“Eye diseases can appear at any stage of our lives, from strabismus and myopia (short-sightedness) that develop in childhood, to age-related conditions including presbyopia (the battle against short-sightedness, such as when reading a restaurant menu or a mobile phone screen) and AMD (Age-related macular degeneration) starts in your 40s,” Voon said.
“By making an appointment for your next regular eye exam, practicing healthy screen habits, or making sure you remember to wear your glasses when you need them, you can help ensure you have clearer, healthier vision for many years to come.”
3. Dental checkup
“When considering overall health be opposed toit is very important not to neglect your oral health and make sure you visit your dentist regularly. ” my dentist.
people People with good oral health may only need a checkup every 12 to 24 months, but people with more oral problems may need more frequent checkups. NHS website.
Why it’s important:
“Without regular checkups, conditions such as gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer may go undetected,” Whitley points out. “Generally speaking, oral cancer can affect anyone, but drinking alcohol and smoking, including chewing tobacco, do increase the chance of developing oral cancer.
“Early detection is key to improving survival rates for people with oral cancer, so it’s important to get checked as soon as possible if you experience any problems or symptoms.”
4. Blood cholesterol test
High cholesterol usually causes no symptoms, according to the agency NHS websiteso you can only find out if you have it through a blood test.
“A cholesterol blood test can be done through your GP,” says Greenyer. “Total cholesterol above 5 mmol/L, LDL cholesterol above 3, and HDL cholesterol below 1 indicates that you have high cholesterol.
“People with high cholesterol are often advised to ensure regular exercise, including resistance training. They are also advised to avoid processed foods and carbonated drinks.”
Why it’s important:
“High cholesterol is a sign of metabolic dysfunction,” Greenyer explains. “So high cholesterol doesn’t necessarily directly cause all the problems, but it is a sign that we may be unhealthy and that in turn people may develop heart disease and increase their risk of heart attack, stroke and vascular disease.”
5. Cancer screening
There are currently three main NHS national cancer screening programs in the UK, targeting breast, cervical and bowel cancer.
Greenyer said: “Women aged 50 to 71 (registered with an NHS GP) will be invited to have a mammogram every three years to screen for breast cancer, and anyone with a cervix (registered with an NHS GP) will be invited to have a cervical screening every five years from the age of 25 to 64.”
“Screening for bowel cancer is now also done with the FIT (faecal immunochemical test) test, which is sent by post and checks for blood in the stall.”
According to the agency, if you are aged 50 to 74 and registered with your GP, you will automatically receive a bowel cancer screening home test kit (FIT kit) by post every two years NHS website.
Why it’s important:
“Early detection helps detect cancer at an early stage, which is often easier to treat than cancer diagnosed at a later stage,” Greenyer said.