New Year, New You: 5 Health Screenings to Schedule in 2026

The start of the new year is the perfect time to hit the reset button. Beyond the typical resolutions like eating better and exercising more, prioritizing preventive health screenings can help direct your plan for optimal wellness.

These screenings help detect health issues before you have symptoms, giving you the best opportunity to prevent or minimize long-term health complications.

At A&U Family Medicine in Sugar Land, Texas, Dr. Hammad Zaidi believes strongly in the power of preventive care and the importance of routine health screenings. Here, we share key screenings to consider as you plan for a healthier year ahead.

1. Annual physical exam

The health screenings you need depend on your age, personal health history, and family history. The best place to start is with your annual physical exam, which is a foundation of our family medicine care.

This comprehensive evaluation gives us an overall picture of your current health and helps us decide which additional screenings or tests may benefit you. If you haven’t scheduled your annual checkup yet, now is the ideal time to get it on the calendar. It provides valuable insight that can help guide your new goals for 2026.

2. Blood pressure check

Your blood pressure measures the force of blood against the walls of your arteries during and in between heartbeats. When blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your arteries, causing them to stiffen and narrow and forcing your heart to work harder. 

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a common chronic health condition that often causes no symptoms until there’s significant damage to the body. A simple blood pressure check allows us to identify early risk factors or diagnose hypertension.

Managing your blood pressure can lower your risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. 

3. Cancer screenings

Cancer health screenings can save your life. The type and timing of these screenings depends on your age, risk factors, and family history. 

Common cancer screenings include:

• Pap smear for cervical cancer
• Mammogram for breast cancer
• Colonoscopy for colon cancer
• Skin exam for skin cancer
• Prostate specific antigen (PSA) for prostate cancer

An abnormal screening result doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer, but it may indicate early changes that require additional testing or follow-up. Detecting abnormalities early greatly increases your chances of successful treatment and recovery. 

4. Diabetes screening

Diabetes is a common chronic health condition caused by elevated blood sugar. If left undiagnosed or unmanaged, diabetes puts you at greater risk of other serious complications such as heart disease, nerve damage (neuropathy), and vision problems (retinopathy).

We screen for diabetes using a blood test called the hemoglobin A1C, which measures your average blood sugar level over the past three months. Results from this test can help identify diabetes or prediabetes and guide lifestyle changes that lower your risk of long-term health complications. 

5. Mental health screening 

Mental health is an important part of overall health, yet it’s often overlooked. A brief mental health questionnaire helps us assess your mood, feelings, and behavior, allowing us to identify common conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Including mental health as part of a “new year, new you” plan helps normalize the conversations about emotional well-being and reduces stigma related to mental illness.

Preventive health screenings are an essential part of a proactive approach to long-term wellness. Scheduling your physical or recommended screenings provides valuable data that can help you create a focused and personalized 2026 health plan.

Call us today to speak with our scheduling staff or book an appointment online.