diff --git a/lua/swift/core/utils.lua b/lua/swift/core/utils.lua
index ade244e..78411c9 100644
--- a/lua/swift/core/utils.lua
+++ b/lua/swift/core/utils.lua
@@ -16,13 +16,40 @@ function M.find_file_upwards(filename, start_path)
   return nil
 end
 
--- Find files matching pattern in parent directories
+-- Find files matching a suffix pattern in parent directories
+-- Uses vim.uv.fs_scandir instead of vim.fn.glob to avoid blocking on large dirs
 function M.find_pattern_upwards(pattern, start_path)
   start_path = start_path or vim.fn.getcwd()
   local path = start_path
 
-  while path ~= "/" do
-    local matches = vim.fn.glob(path .. "/" .. pattern, false, true)
+  -- Convert glob pattern like "*.xcworkspace" to a suffix match
+  local suffix = pattern:match("^%*(.+)$")
+
+  -- Limit traversal depth to avoid scanning all the way to /
+  local max_depth = 10
+  local depth = 0
+
+  while path ~= "/" and depth < max_depth do
+    depth = depth + 1
+    local matches = {}
+
+    if suffix then
+      -- Fast suffix scan using libuv (non-blocking within coroutine, instant in practice)
+      local handle = vim.uv.fs_scandir(path)
+      if handle then
+        while true do
+          local name, ftype = vim.uv.fs_scandir_next(handle)
+          if not name then break end
+          if (ftype == "directory" or ftype == "link") and name:sub(-#suffix) == suffix then
+            table.insert(matches, path .. "/" .. name)
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    else
+      -- Fallback to glob for complex patterns
+      matches = vim.fn.glob(path .. "/" .. pattern, false, true)
+    end
+
     if #matches > 0 then
       return matches
     end
diff --git a/tests/test_health_speed.lua b/tests/test_health_speed.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6042bce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_health_speed.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+-- Test script: validate all shell calls in health.lua are fast
+-- Run with: nvim --headless -u tests/minimal_init.lua -l tests/test_health_speed.lua
+
+local function time_call(label, fn)
+  local start = vim.loop.hrtime()
+  local ok, result = pcall(fn)
+  local elapsed_ms = (vim.loop.hrtime() - start) / 1e6
+  local status = ok and "OK" or "ERROR"
+  print(string.format("[%s] %-50s %.0fms", status, label, elapsed_ms))
+  if not ok then
+    print("   Error: " .. tostring(result))
+  end
+  return result
+end
+
+print("=== swift.nvim checkhealth speed test ===")
+print("")
+
+-- Bootstrap plugin
+local plugin_ok = pcall(require, "swift")
+if not plugin_ok then
+  -- minimal setup without lspconfig
+  vim.opt.runtimepath:prepend(".")
+  plugin_ok = pcall(require, "swift")
+end
+
+-- 1. swift --version
+time_call("swift --version (via version_validator)", function()
+  local v = require("swift.version_validator")
+  return v.get_installed_swift_version()
+end)
+
+-- 2. xcrun --find sourcekit-lsp
+time_call("xcrun --find sourcekit-lsp (via lsp.find_sourcekit_lsp)", function()
+  local lsp = require("swift.features.lsp")
+  return lsp.find_sourcekit_lsp()
+end)
+
+-- 3. swift-format --version
+time_call("swift-format --version (via validator.is_formatter_compatible)", function()
+  local v = require("swift.version_validator")
+  return v.is_formatter_compatible()
+end)
+
+-- 4a. Project detection — xcworkspace scan (was the culprit)
+time_call("detect_xcode_workspace (find_pattern_upwards *.xcworkspace)", function()
+  local d = require("swift.features.project_detector")
+  return d.detect_xcode_workspace(vim.fn.getcwd())
+end)
+
+-- 4b. Project detection — xcodeproj scan
+time_call("detect_xcode_project  (find_pattern_upwards *.xcodeproj)", function()
+  local d = require("swift.features.project_detector")
+  return d.detect_xcode_project(vim.fn.getcwd())
+end)
+
+-- 4c. Project detection — SPM (io.open Package.swift, fast)
+time_call("detect_spm            (find_file_upwards Package.swift)", function()
+  local d = require("swift.features.project_detector")
+  return d.detect_spm(vim.fn.getcwd())
+end)
+
+-- 5. lsp.status() — should be instant (just checks active clients)
+time_call("lsp.status() — check active clients", function()
+  local lsp = require("swift.features.lsp")
+  return lsp.status()
+end)
+
+-- 6. debugger.find_lldb() — just exepath, instant
+time_call("debugger.find_lldb() — exepath/executable", function()
+  local d = require("swift.features.debugger")
+  return d.find_lldb()
+end)
+
+print("")
+print("=== Done. All calls above 1000ms are potential hangs. ===")
+vim.cmd("quit")