Back to the OP - the superstition referred to is the fear of high temperature differentials affecting their health. It sounds funny to us, but I believe that might be true for Dominicans - in their normal life they have limited temperature variations. As a result their bodies are more susceptible to cold.
It is referred to as Pasmo.
maybe, but that is merely psycho-somatic. because we already know that such things arent possible. to come in from hot outside and then into an AC controlled room, people dont keel over and die.
This Pasmo isnt exclusive to DR. Back maybe 20 years ago, yep, 20 years ago, my friend Rob brought his wife up from New Orleans to live in New York. It was ALWAYS cold to her. 60 degrees in October, "damn, its cold." I used to laugh when they sold those bulky winter coats hanging from the wall at Winn-Dixie supermarkets in Miami.
a. it is either a superstition from people who were too poor to do what is considered a rich thing(have climate control), so they speak in envy of the people who can.
b. insufficient medical knowledge or exposure. insufficient knowledge of climatology. insufficient health care. insufficient standards of civil engineering(with respect to electricity).
c. since they dont experience things in leisure here it could be a scare tactic related to a. not to be wasteful when you are exposed to it. Of course I dont believe this one because they tend to waste everything else of limited resource so why not spinning air?