A new year is a natural reset button. While resolutions often focus on fitness or productivity, preventive healthcare is one of the most impactful ways to invest in your long-term well-being. February is a smart time to pause, regroup, and make sure important screenings and check-ins aren’t slipping through the cracks.
This checklist helps patients plan ahead for 2026 by focusing on proactive care, especially digestive health, before symptoms become harder to manage.
Your 2026 Preventive Care Checklist
✓ Annual Physical
Your primary care visit sets the foundation. It’s often the gateway to referrals, lab work, and identifying risk factors early.
✓ Digestive Health Check-In
Ongoing symptoms like heartburn, bloating, abdominal pain, or changes in bowel habits shouldn’t be put on the back burner or ignored. Even mild symptoms can offer useful signals when addressed early.
✓ Colon Cancer Screening
If you’re age 45 or older, or have a family history of colorectal cancer, a colonoscopy should be on your calendar. Colon cancer is second leading in cancer causing deaths in the US, often showing little to symptoms. At the same time, colon cancer is highly preventable and one of the most treatable cancers when caught early, with survival rates around 90% when detected in its earliest stages.
✓ Hemorrhoid Evaluation
Persistent discomfort, bleeding, or pain is not something you need to live with. Many treatment options are simple when addressed early.
At Hunterdon Gastroenterology Associates, we offer CRH O’Regan banding, a minimally invasive, in-office procedure designed to relieve internal hemorrhoids with:
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No surgery
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No anesthesia
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Virtually pain-free
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Little to no downtime
Addressing hemorrhoids early can significantly improve comfort and prevent symptoms from worsening over time.
✓ GERD and Acid Reflux Management
Frequent heartburn isn’t just uncomfortable or inconvenient. Long-term reflux can actually lead to serious complications, like esophageal cancer, when left untreated. Preventive visits help fine-tune treatment before symptoms escalate and protect your esophagus.
✓ Medication Review
A yearly review of prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and supplements helps ensure everything is still necessary, effective, and working safely together.
Why Preventive Care Matters
Preventive care isn’t about expecting bad news. It’s about staying ahead of potential issues, reducing risk, and maintaining quality of life. Many gastrointestinal conditions are far easier to manage when they’re addressed early.
At Hunterdon Gastroenterology Associates, preventive care means education, early intervention, and support—so patients feel confident, informed, and in control of their health.
Plan It Once. Benefit All Year.
Scheduling preventive care early in the year makes it easier to stay consistent, avoid last-minute stress, and prioritize your health alongside everything else life demands.
February is a perfect checkpoint. A little planning now can make all of 2026 healthier and more comfortable. If you’re due for a screening or experiencing ongoing digestive symptoms, now is a great time to take action. Schedule your visit with Hunterdon Gastroenterology Associates today.
