Fathers are mentors, protectors, and friends. For every child, the love and support a father gives from birth to their growing-up years is boundless, and so, to make every father feel special, every year, Father's Day is celebrated honouring their efforts. As they say, health is wealth, and we all want our fathers to live long and healthy lives.

A recent report by Redcliffe Labs, which completed an analysis of more than 1 lakh reports revealed a startling pattern among men across age groups. More than 40 per cent had high total cholesterol, 43.9 per cent had elevated LDL (bad cholesterol), 37.4 per cent had high triglyceride levels, and 45.3 per cent had raised hs-CRP levels, a key indicator of heart inflammation.

What’s more concerning is that most of these men were asymptomatic; they felt fine, but their reports told a different story. "This is not just the analysis of the near past, but the observance was through the combined data of the past three years, suggesting that chronic conditions are quietly growing year on year, not just in older men but in younger fathers, too. That’s why regular diagnostic screenings are not just necessary but non-negotiable. Preventive care is not about anxiety; it's about assurance. Early detection allows timely action," Dr Mayanka Lodha Seth, chief pathologist at Redcliffe Labs, told Times Now.

Here are a few essential health tests that dads over the age of 40 should undergo regularly:

Heart diseases can lead to many deaths across the world. And so, the best way to protect yourself is by getting checked regularly. A periodic lipid profile test is a must, as it can help your father examine his total cholesterol level, low-density lipoprotein, high-density cholesterol, and triglycerides in the blood. High cholesterol levels can indicate potential blockages in the arteries of the heart.

Also, a cardiovascular assessment – which includes blood pressure monitoring, cholesterol levels, and electrocardiogram – can identify risk factors very early. Knowing these can lead to lifestyle changes and treatments that significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Unchecked type 2 diabetes can be a silent killer, which increases the risk of heart disease and other conditions like pancreatic failure or cancer. Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is essential.

You must encourage your father to get his HbA1c levels checked to make sure his blood sugar is within a healthy range. Early detection prevents severe complications like nerve damage, heart disease, and kidney failure.

For any cancer, early diagnosis is the key. Among men, prostate cancer – a slow-growing deadly disease – can become incurable later. Prostate cancer develops in the prostate gland – a small gland in the male reproductive system located below the bladder. You must encourage your father to undergo a blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, in his system, regardless of whether he exhibits symptoms or not.

If your father is a smoker and has a history of tobacco usage, it is important that he undertakes a chest X-ray every year. According to experts, lung carcinoma is a common cancer among men, so a chest X-ray is recommended if your father complains of a chronic cough or breathlessness.

An LFT, or liver function test, helps check enzyme and protein levels to assess liver performance. It can reveal early signs of strain, like spotting fatty liver or damage from alcohol or medication. According to experts, with age, your father’s liver may undergo wear and tear is important that this test is done to find out if there is any anomaly.