Hot cars can be lethal, even in shade

Every year so far in the 21st century between 30 and 60 U.S. children have died from the heat after being left unattended in a parked car.

Those stats prompted researchers to do a study that “not only quantifies temperature differences inside vehicles parked in the sun … but it also makes clear that even parking a vehicle in the shade can be lethal to a small child.”

They found that in Tempe, Arizona, when daytime temperatures went to 95 degrees, after one hour temperatures inside a car reached 115. Seats reached 124, steering wheels 127 and dashboards 156. Even in vehicles parked in the shade, cabin temps were above

100. The researchers said a child (depending on height and weight) generally will suffer heatstroke when core body temperature reaches 104.

As inconvenient as it may be to unpack them for a short run into a store, just doit.

Breathe easier with anthocyanin

Free diving is diving without oxygen tanks to extreme depths. The record is 831 feet set by Herbert Nitsch in 2012. (The record for holding your breath underwater is 9 minutes for women and 11 minutes for men.)

New research is showing you may be able to maintain healthy lungs into your old age by eating more fruits and vegetables, because of a flavonoid called anthocyanin.

We’ve known for some time that flavonoids have beneficial polyphenol and anti-inflammatory properties. But anthocyanins, found in red and black raspberries, blueberries and blackberries, plums and black currants, seem to have speedy and direct anti-inflammatory properties for the lungs. For people with COPD, anthocyanins seem to reduce mucus and inflammation.

Analyzing data from the European Community Respiratory Health Surveys , researchers measured how strongly folks could exhale in one second and how forcefully folks could exhale completely after a deep breath. What they found was a correlation between a slower rate of lung function decline and a higher rate of dietary intake of anthocyanin flavonoids. Current smokers didn’t see the benefits. Ex-smokers did see them, but not as much those who had never smoked.

Bottom line: Seven to nine daily servings of vegetables and fruits can boost your immune system, give you a healthy heart and slow the decline of lung function that tends to occur with age.

Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare. com.