Weekly Update - Preventative Health

3 min Read ⏰

I’ve recently made the switch to preventative healthcare. Instead of waiting for something to go wrong, I’m staying ahead of the curve—tracking my health, running the right tests, and seeking out the services I need.

But here’s the thing: in Ireland, there’s no plug-and-play system for this. While the US has seen the rise of concierge medicine and annual health optimisation plans, I’ve had to build my own version from scratch—niche practices, private hospitals for scans, and personal tech to monitor key markers.

I’m still in the early stages of figuring out what works. What’s worth testing monthly? Quarterly? Annually? Which markers actually move the needle, and which are just noise? I don’t have all the answers yet, but I’m building a system that makes sense for me—one that fits into my life without becoming a full-time job.

Here’s how I’ve structured it. ⬇️

Weekly

• I do a weekly weigh-in at home using a smart scale, but I only focus on the kilos. BMI, water retention, muscle mass… on these scales they’re not accurate enough to matter. The key is consistency—same time, same conditions—so I can track progress without stressing over daily fluctuations.

Monthly

• A monthly InBody scan gives me a deeper look beyond weight—tracking body fat percentage, muscle mass, and overall composition. It’s a great way to see if my training and nutrition are actually moving the needle in the right direction. I can get this at my gym, so for me a much better option than the gold standard of a Dexa scan.

Bi-Annual

• A bi-annual comprehensive blood panel helps me track key health markers like cholesterol, inflammation, hormonal balance and metabolic function. It’s a crucial checkpoint to catch any issues early and make data-driven adjustments to my diet, supplements and lifestyle.

Annually

• An annual VO2 max test measures my cardiovascular fitness and serves as a key longevity indicator—higher VO2 max is linked to better health and a longer life. Tracking this helps me gauge my endurance, adjust my training, and ensure I’m maintaining a strong aerobic foundation as I age. It also feeds into my competitive nature. Always nice to beat last year’s numbers.

Every 2-5 Years (depending on results)

• A Cardiac CT every 5 years to determine your CAC score helps detect calcium buildup in the arteries, giving an early warning of potential heart disease before symptoms appear. It’s one of the best ways to assess long-term cardiovascular risk.I’ve recently had one done and will share my results next week!

• A chest X-ray every 2-3 years provides a baseline look at lung health, detecting any early signs of issues like scarring, infections, or other abnormalities that could impact long-term respiratory function. Certainly more topical in recent years.

You track your finances, your investments, maybe even your screen time… but what’s more important than your health? The Four Horsemen—heart disease, cancer, neurodegeneration, and metabolic dysfunction—don’t show up overnight, they develop slowly over years and decades. Getting these check-ups on the calendar removes the guesswork and helps you stay ahead of potential issues.

What’s one check-up you know you’ve been putting off?

^{NOTE: I am not a financial advisor, planner or have any formal healthcare education. &Prosper is simply a way for me to share my own journey and offer resources I have found useful. With this, I am starting from near zero and I hope to show that anyone can significantly improve their health and financial wellbeing.}