Keys To A Healthy New Year

In eight areas of medicine, here’s what to know—and do— to stay well in 2026.

It’s that new year moment of truth, when you’re most motivated to take a fresh look at your health and the dangers it could face. As 2026 sets in, you’re ready to do what you can to assure your longevity and the quality of your life—and absorb the latest medical wisdom. Alas, your physician is not in your living room to advise you, but this BERGEN summary is the next best thing. Of course, it doesn’t answer every question or cover every recent advance. (And it’s no substitute for seeing your physician or other provider regularly.) But it’s a rundown worth perusing. In eight key areas of medicine, here’s what to understand—and what to watch for.

YOUR HEART

“Heart health should be part of regular checkups from early adulthood,” advises Tariqshah Syed, M.D., chief of cardiology at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck. “By age 20, everyone should know their blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels.”

Prioritizing heart health is vital to overall health. The American Heart Association says that nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure, which puts them at risk for stroke, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, cognitive decline and dementia. Addressing that measure and others, clinicians today seek to prevent heart disease before it starts.” Says Dr. Syed: “Lifestyle is truly the cornerstone of heart health. A balanced diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep and stress management are as powerful as many medications. We now emphasize these habits not just as prevention, but as core treatment strategies for almost every heart condition.”

“The future of cardiology is incredibly bright,” says David Landers, M.D., interim director of the Division of Cardiology at Hackensack University Medical Center. “Technology and data play a huge role in improving patient care.” Among the most promising developments in cardiology for 2026, he says, are the use of AI-powered imaging for earlier and more accurate detection of heart conditions; an expansion of digital health technologies that will allow for remote monitoring of patients and quicker intervention; and breakthroughs in clinical trials, such as the next generation of stents and valves.

According to Dr. Syed, the use of medicines such as SGLT2 inhibitors [sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitors, which help kidneys remove excess glucose through urination], originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes, and newer cholesterol-lowering medications in oral and injectable forms, has offered “excellent outcomes” to cardiac patients.

“Many of the innovations we’re excited about are already becoming part of everyday care,” says Dr. Syed. “Minimally invasive valve procedures are expanding, giving more patients alternatives to open-heart surgery. And ongoing refinements in AI-based monitoring and personalized cardiac rehab continue to improve prevention and long-term outcomes. The excitement isn’t about something brand new—it’s about how effectively these tools are now being used in real-world practice. AI is also making a difference: It helps interpret ECGs [electrocardiograms] and echocardiograms more accurately, predicts risk patterns and assists with device monitoring. Some of these capabilities are already built into the electrophysiologic devices and our state-of-the-art CT [computed tomography] scan we use today.”

• Watch for: The signs. “While chest pain is a well-known sign of a heart attack,” Dr. Landers says, “heart disease can often be a ‘silent killer,’ with more subtle symptoms, especially in women.” Less obvious signs, he says, include:

Unexplained fatigue: “Feeling unusually tired after simple activities could indicate that your heart isn’t pumping efficiently.”

Swelling in the feet and ankles: “This can be a sign of heart failure, as a weakened heart has trouble pumping blood back from the lower extremities.”

Persistent cough or wheezing: “Fluid buildup in the lungs due to heart failure can cause a chronic cough.”

Waking up frequently at night to urinate: “This can be related to the body processing excess fluid that has accumulated during the day due to poor circulation from a weakened heart.”

Dr. Syed adds jaw, back and shoulder discomfort and a racing or skipping heart as symptoms to watch. “Even mild or intermittent symptoms are worth checking,” he says. “Early evaluation and treatment can prevent major events down the road.”

YOUR CANCER RISK

The American Cancer Society estimated that 59,840 New Jerseyans would be diagnosed with cancer in 2025, and that there would be 15,180 cancer deaths in the state. Cancer is the second-leading cause of death in New Jersey, after heart disease, according to the state’s Department of Health. And it’s a diagnosis that, understandably, can cause much fear.

But the arsenal that doctors have at their disposal continues to get more powerful, says Jonathan Lee, M.D., an oncologist at Holy Name. The gold standard of care involves screenings, early detection, survivorship needs and follow-up care, as well as what Dr. Lee calls the “three weapons” patients typically encounter: surgery, radiation and systemic treatment, or chemotherapy.

“We are now able to deliver multidisciplinary care and see how we can utilize these tools most effectively,” Dr. Lee says, noting that better diagnostic tools, better workups and markers have led to updated staging systems. “Tools are a lot more sensitive and precise.”

Genomic medicine, he says, will help target abnormalities through more sophisticated screenings, diagnostic tools and surveillance for recurrence. Research into mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) technology, which uses a special “messenger” molecule to trigger cells’ production of certain proteins, may lead to better drugs.

“Chemotherapy is very good at killing cancer cells,” he says. “Unfortunately, chemotherapy kills all cells.” Immunotherapy and other forms of targeted therapy offer a promising counterpoint. “We can use our own immune system to combat cancer,” Dr. Lee says. “We want to increase efficacy and decrease the toxicity of treatment. Can we do less surgery, less invasively? This is an evolutionary shift, and it highly depends on technology.”

Cancer care also is becoming more holistic. “Nutritional and social support, mental and, to some extent, spiritual, support become critical—and we did not recognize this before,” Dr. Lee says. For all cancers, especially common ones such as lung, prostate, colorectal, uterine and breast, maintaining overall health and fitness is important. “The healthier you are,” Dr. Lee says, “the more treatment you can tolerate.”

• Watch for: Your individual risk. If specific forms of cancer run in your family (see page 26), “earlier or heightened screenings might be helpful,” advises Dr. Lee. “Or if you have a lifestyle risk—are you a smoker, for example? Knowing what your risk factors are can lead to undergoing more meaningful screenings.”

YOUR MUSCLES AND BONES

It all comes down to pickleball. “The general trend we’re seeing is that patients have the expectation of staying active much longer and at a much higher level,” says Michael Ast, M.D., chief of knee surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery in Paramus and Manhattan. “Nothing’s a better example of this than pickleball.”

Whereas retirees of yore were content with canasta and golf, he says, “now it’s all pickleball, all day, every day, which is a very different level of function.” This increased activity is great for cardiac health, but it can have complications in the world of orthopedics. Luckily, Dr. Ast says, innovations in areas such as robotic surgery and computer navigation, and 3D imaging such as musculoskeletal gait modeling have helped the orthopedic world meet the goals of active patients.

“This is where advanced technology has really helped us—the modern implants, the modern surgical techniques and the modern tools we’re using today that allow us to feel more comfortable saying, ‘Yes, we can hit our target every single time,” try to personalize surgery in a way that was not possible 15 or 20 years ago.” At Hackensack University Medical Center, says Yair Kissin, M.D., vice chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, more than half of all total joint replacements are performed with robotic assistance. The hospital uses three distinct, state-of-the-art robotic systems, which make surgery more personalized and precise. “This precision allows the surgeon to spare healthy bone and ligaments,” says the doctor. “That can contribute to a faster recovery and reduced post-operative pain.”

• Watch for: “Weakness in the legs or feet or hands,” Dr. Ast says. “Often people think it’s a neurological problem, that they’re having a stroke, and a lot of times it’s simply an orthopedic issue that we can handle well. Another symptom: a knee or a hip is giving way, buckling when you walk. Pain drives you to the doctor, but with some of these more subtle findings people wait a long time to get treated. That’s unfortunate, because in many cases we can intervene.”

YOUR SKIN

Robert Kantor, M.D., a dermatologist and Mohs surgeon at Summit Health in Clifton, can rid you of skin tags, certain age spots and “those waxy barnacles” with a simple freezing or gentle cautery. But as a skin-cancer specialist, the most common question he hears is, “Is this spot OK?”

“The first step is always a careful exam and, if needed, a tiny biopsy to find out exactly what we’re looking at,” Dr. Kantor says. “For many common skin cancers, particularly basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, I use Mohs micrographic surgery, where we remove the cancer layer by layer and check each layer under the microscope the same day. This lets us clear the tumor while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible—especially important on the head and neck.”

“The other big concern I hear is, ‘Why won’t this rash go away?’ There are hundreds of possible causes, but some of the usual suspects include eczema, psoriasis and allergic reactions,” he says. “Depending on the cause, a rash may respond beautifully to a combination of gentle skin care, moisturizers and prescription creams. For more severe or stubborn cases, we now have very effective modern medications that target the overactive part of the immune system, which can make a life-changing difference for people who have been uncomfortable for years. Acne is another extremely common issue, and it’s usually managed with a combination of medicated creams or gels and, when needed, oral medications tailored to the individual.”

Dr. Kantor says dermatology has changed a great deal in a short time, especially in the world of skin cancer. “As a field, we’ve gotten much better at spreading awareness about what to look for, so patients are coming in sooner when they notice a new or changing spot,” he explains. “Under the microscope, pathology has become more refined, which helps us be more precise in distinguishing a harmless spot from an early skin cancer—and that precision allows us to tailor treatment more carefully.”

The dermatologist adds that the range of treatment options has grown. “For conditions like psoriasis and eczema, we still rely on many of the same tried-and-true creams, but in addition we now have targeted pills and injections that can calm very specific parts of the immune system. People who used to get only partial or temporary relief can finally achieve long-term control.”

• Watch for: Changes in your skin. “When it comes to skin cancer, the ‘quiet’ warning signs matter,” Dr. Kantor says. “A new spot that doesn’t look like your other spots, a mole that starts to change, a ‘pimple’ or ‘bug bite’ that’s still there after a month or two, a rough patch that heals and then keeps coming back, or a spot that bleeds easily when you wash or dry off—those are all reasons to get checked. A new dark streak in a nail, especially if it’s changing, is another symptom not to ignore. If something on your skin is changing, bothers you or just gives you a bad feeling, that’s enough justification to see a dermatologist.”

YOUR PSYCHE

In the past five years, licensed counselor Darian Eletto has seen a growing number of patients seeking help for depression and anxiety, “especially social anxiety,” she says. She attributes the increase to lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We like to think it’s ‘back to business as usual,’ but it’s not,” says Eletto, chief clinical officer for behavioral health services at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus.

“We talk a lot about a loneliness epidemic, and there’s truth in that,” Eletto says. “Significant life events were altered, and people were grieving so much loss—not only loss of life, but of celebrations, things that were taken away.” Young people, who were schooled remotely and more likely than adults to have missed milestones in the years of social distancing, have been hit hard. But all ages, Eletto says, are seeking help.

Counseling and medication remain tried-and-true treatment methods, whether in weekly private therapy sessions or in varied hospital settings. An acute partial hospitalization program, for example, “provides structure,” Eletto says, offering “inpatient care in an outpatient setting.”

“There’s been a huge increase in the adoption of TMS and other evidence-based tools for trauma,” Eletto says. TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) is a noninvasive procedure that uses electromagnetic induction to stimulate nerve cells in the brain as a way to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder and migraines. Other innovative tools cited by Eletto include eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), which uses eye movements and left-to-right stimulations to help people process traumatic memories; and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), a form of psychotherapy that focuses on developing core skills of mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness.

The use of ketamine, Eletto says, has also been effective for treatment-resistant depression by creating new neural pathways. One positive change since the pandemic is a continued growing awareness and acceptance of the need for mental health care. “We are seeing mental health being talked about as regularly as dental care, and that’s promising,” Eletto says. “There’s universality to mental health problems.”

• Watch for: Major symptoms of depression include feeling sad or anxious often or all the time, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you experience loss of appetite, loss of interest in things that used to be fun; stomach problems, aches, pains and/or headaches that don’t go away; feelings of guilt, worthlessness and helplessness or thoughts of suicide, among other symptoms, the CDC recommends you seek immediate help from a mental health professional. Eletto says other symptoms of mental health concerns include “changes in sleep hygiene, disruptions in your day-to-day rhythms and tasks, whether that’s doing dishes or going to the gym—sneaky things that show your motivation is not what it usually is.”

YOUR WEIGHT

You’ve heard the Ozempic jingle on TV. You probably know someone on this medicine or another GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) agonist, designed to lower blood sugar in Type 2 diabetes patients. These products have also been very effective at treating obesity. But, of course, the picture is not quite as simple as it may seem.

“The journey for weight loss is about permanent transformation,” says Naser E. Gharaibeh, M.D., medical director of weight loss and metabolic medicine for Valley Health System. “This field is changing significantly. The gold standard involves lifestyle changes.”

Dr. Gharaibeh helps patients design “meal plans,” rather than the more punitive-sounding “diets,” and he encourages them to increase physical activity, build muscle mass and get proper sleep for the best outcome. “Medications are nothing but a tool to change your lifestyle,” he says.

Dr. Gharaibeh encourages patients to consider their BMI (body mass index), waist circumference and muscle mass to be vital signs, as important as the number on the scale if not more so. And while the GLP-1 agonist drugs are undeniable innovations, the doctor would really like to see societal changes too, such as an environment and culture that support good health. “We need to design our health care system to prioritize wellness and weight management programs,” he says. “We need to address the importance of sleep and stress. We need better environmental design, with more parks and indoor recreation, more walkability, access to groceries. We need more taxes on soda, less on healthy options, and better labeling—we need to alarm people about calorie-dense foods.”

“We made a lot of changes for the COVID pandemic,” Dr. Gharaibeh says. “Why not make a five-percent change in our policies and our lifestyles to address the obesity epidemic?”

• Watch for: Those symptoms beyond the scale. “Annual exams are important,” says Dr. Gharaibeh. “Check for sleep apnea, hyperlipidemia. Primary care should be weight care-friendly.”

YOUR TEETH

“Brush your teeth, floss, and get your check-ups!” That might not seem like a newsflash, but it is solid, timeless advice.

“Routine preventive care is key,” says dentist John Minichetti, D.M.D., of Englewood Health. “This is the best way to avoid dental procedures down the line, contributing to overall health.”

In addition to daily, at-home maintenance, younger patients can benefit from preventive measures such as dental sealants—thin, protective coatings on the grooved surfaces of molars. “Sealants fill in crevices while teeth are developing,” Dr. Minichetti says.

Even the most diligent brusher and flosser will eventually get hit with plaque and the effects of normal wear and tear. If and when you’re faced with extensive time in the chair with your dentist, oral surgeon or endodontist, take comfort in knowing that advanced technology is helping to minimize your troubles. AI technology facilitates speeding up treatment plans, says Dr. Minichetti, as well as navigating surgery.

Lasers are used in periodontal techniques such as the laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP), which reconstructs and regenerates supporting structures around the teeth, according to the National Library of Medicine. Even 3-D printers are being put to use, making teeth in rapid fashion. “So while you’re suturing the patient, the teeth are being milled,” Dr. Minichetti says.

“It’s much like when digital X-rays first came out—they cost a fortune, but then the cost came down and dental practices everywhere had them,” Dr. Minichetti says. “The cost will come down for other innovations too.”

• Watch for: Pain or sensitivity to cold or heat can indicate a cavity, a cracked tooth or another problem. Periodontal disease often presents with bleeding gums but is usually painless in the early stages, so Dr. Minichetti advises regular dental care to address any plaque build-up around the gums. “As we get older, periodontal maintenance becomes important,” he says, noting that patients should monitor for “pain, tenderness, swelling, irritation, bad breath.”

YOUR BRAIN

The brain, of course, is the center of what makes you who you are. “Caring for the brain requires a unique and holistic approach,” says Komal Naik, D.O., chair of neurosciences at Summit Health. “The brain is not only responsible for our physical functions, but also our emotional, cognitive and psychological well-being. Because of this complexity, neurological care must address both the physical and emotional aspects of health, often involving collaboration between specialties such as psychiatry, psychology and physical medicine.”

Brain health encompasses motor, emotional, tactile and sensory activity as well as cognitive function, according to the National Institutes of Health. It can be affected by age-related changes, traumatic injuries or stroke, mood disorders, substance-use disorders or diseases such as Alzheimer’s and related dementias, Parkinson’s, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), and other neurodegenerative disorders.

“To maintain brain health, it is important to adopt proactive habits such as regular exercise, balanced nutrition, adequate sleep and mental stimulation through learning new skills or engaging in creative activities,” Dr. Naik says. “Nurturing emotional well-being and managing stress also play a key role in keeping the mind sharp and resilient.”

When problems do arise, neurologists will order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies or other diagnostics. “Every evaluation begins with a detailed review of the patient’s medical history, followed by appropriate diagnostic testing to identify the underlying cause of symptoms,” Dr. Naik says.

“We are incorporating newer diagnostic tools such as amyloid PET [positron emission tomography] and DaT [dopamine transporter] scans, which can help detect early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease,” she adds. “As new technologies and treatment protocols gain approval, our team continues to integrate them into practice, giving patients access to the most modern and effective care available.” • Watch for: “Symptoms such as persistent headaches, memory loss, mood changes, dizziness or difficulty with coordination or speech,” says Dr. Naik, “should be cues to seek medical attention.”

YOUR BIGGEST CONCERN: YOUR KIDS

As a parent, you can—and must—assure excellent care for your own children. Thus, as you look ahead to taking care of your health in 2026 in the eight areas our main article focuses on, you’ll also be interested in the medical category that cuts across all eight of these areas with a focus on young people.

If you need only take your children to their pediatrician for regular checkups and the occasional respiratory or stomach bug, consider yourself lucky. Janet Lazieh, M.D., a pediatrician with Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, knows that children, as a whole, are facing significantly bigger health challenges these days.

“Conditions like obesity, mental health challenges, allergies, asthma and the effects of screen time and sedentary behavior are growing,” says Dr. Lazieh, citing statistics that reveal these to be national and global problems.

Fortunately, there are also positive trends in pediatric care. The doctor adds that parents are stepping up, becoming proactive with their children’s health and acting in partnership with pediatricians. “Families are doing more than reacting to illness; they’re trying to prevent issues before they arise,” she says. She also sees a new focus on holistic health. “There is growing awareness of children’s mental health, resilience and emotional regulation. Nutrition and lifestyle behaviors—diet variety, hydration, limiting processed foods, etc.—are more consciously managed by families now.

Meanwhile, technological advances such as AI and remote monitoring are helping pediatricians do their jobs amidst a shrinking workforce, Dr. Lazieh says.

• What to watch for: Besides fevers, breathing problems, pain, dehydration, injuries and rashes, Dr. Lazieh says that parents should take note if a child shows “unusual tiredness or lack of energy. Persistent fatigue with poor appetite, pallor, or weight loss always deserves a pediatric evaluation.” Especially with children, it’s better to check out a condition that turns out not to be serious than to ignore one that could be.