What if your blood tests say you're normal, but you're not actually as healthy as you could be?
In this episode of The Gavin Sisters, we sit down with Dr Dan McNally, co-founder of Emerald Health, and Dr Yiannis Balanos, its clinical lead, to explore the world of preventive health and what we can learn from looking beyond the standard health check.
From cholesterol and blood sugar to inflammation, menopause, cancer markers and biological age, we discuss the tests that can help us understand our health risks earlier — and, crucially, what we can actually do with that information.
We explore why a single result rarely tells the whole story, why tracking changes over time can be more revealing than simply being told everything is "normal", and how personalised health data can help us make better decisions for the future.
Because prevention isn't about becoming obsessed with numbers or worrying about every result. It's about understanding your body, identifying potential risks and making small, meaningful changes before problems develop.
And, as we discuss, some of the biggest improvements to our long-term health don't come in a pill bottle.
In this episode, we discuss:
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Preventive health: Why Dan founded Emerald Health and why traditional health checks can leave people with more questions than answers.
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Your blood biomarkers: What cholesterol, triglycerides, HbA1c, CRP, iron, vitamin D and thyroid markers can tell us about our health.
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Blood sugar and insulin resistance: Understanding the markers associated with metabolic health, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk.
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The cholesterol marker you may not know about: What lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is and why this largely genetically determined risk factor matters.
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Normal versus optimal: Why reference ranges don't always tell the whole story and why trends over time can be important.
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Biological age: How health data can help build a clearer picture of your current health and identify areas to work on.
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Cancer markers: What tests such as CA-125 and PSA can — and cannot — tell us about cancer risk.
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Menopause and hormones: When hormone testing can be useful and why menopause is often diagnosed through symptoms rather than blood tests alone.
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Exercise and longevity: Why strength training, cardiovascular fitness, balance and bone health all matter as we age.
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The four pillars of prevention: Exercise, sleep, nutrition and lifestyle choices, including alcohol and smoking.
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The future of healthcare: Why personalised prevention is gaining momentum and the challenges of delivering it within the NHS.
The big takeaway
You don't have to wait until something goes wrong to start taking your health seriously.
Understanding your risk factors, knowing which markers are relevant to you and making changes you can sustain may help improve your long-term health. The aim isn't to chase perfect numbers — it's to make informed decisions about the things you can influence.
As our guests remind us, the goal is to understand where you are now and what a healthier version of you could look like.
"This is you versus an optimal you."
And perhaps the most compelling reminder of all:
"If you could take exercise as a pill, it would be a mega blockbuster medication."
Knowledge is power when it comes to your health.
Listen now and discover what you can do today to invest in your health for the years ahead.
Please note: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Blood tests and screening tools have limitations, and results should be interpreted by a qualified healthcare professional in the context of your personal circumstances.
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