campo myth needs debunked

[sayanora]

Anyone ever heard of pamo?(MOD: He means to say "spasmo" in Dominican Spanish, e-pamo) It means something to the effect of dying after having your body heated up (going to salon, ironing, steam of any kind) and then taking a cold shower, open a fridge, or walking out in the cold rain. Apparently it's a pretty common cause of death in el cibao, since everyone has family members that have died from it (my grandfather was one). Does anyone know if there's an english term for this?

[Michelle Clayton]

Interesting. I've heard may, but not that one. Good luck.

[dv8]

Does anyone know if there's an english term for this?

yes, there is: superstition.

[belgiank]

so that is why you never see anybody out in the rain in the cibao... I always thought their bikes were painted with waterpaints... lol

How to kill your wife. Treat her to the salon, and then ask for a cold one from the fridge...

BelgianK

[cbmitch9]

This myth is very common throughout the Caribbean, not only the DR campos. I have heard it many times along with supposed anecdotal evidence.

[sayanora]

So I'm guessing the cheesy jokes are just a way of saying that you have no idea..?

Anyways, thanks cbmitch for the response and I'll look into it more.

[Givadogahome]

Hyperventilation?

Sudden hypothermia?

[Chip]

I'm pretty certain the correct term is "espasmo/espasmAR".

This is a common myth here as it doesn't not appear to be based on science given the multiple first aid training I've had over the years. I attribute it to the power of suggestion and the mind, in other words people here believe being hot and then being exposed to cold air or water will hurt them and thus their mind cause their mouth to spasm(typical symptom).

In fact when I first moved here my extended family through the wife tried to prevent me from doing it and even used to watch me run the hose over my head after doing exercises or running in the middle of the day waiting for me to go crazy. In the end they gave up. My wife still believes in it - for her anyway, jeje. My father in law and a couple of cuņados no longer believe in it and seem to be much happier when it really gets hot.

I've also talked to at least one doctor about this who believed in it. There is a supposed injection to prevent this from happening that many women who work in salons take. I expect it is just salt water. Such is the power of the mind.

[Matilda]

It is very common here and most believe that if you expose your body to cold after being hot then you will die, or be at risk of death. This would include opening the fridge after ironing, or whilst sweating. However like many superstitions there is some basis in fact as going from heat to cold can cause shock and even death as sudden change to cold water constricts the blood vessels and can affect the heart. When I was a diving instructor in the Mediterranean where the water is much colder than here, we would always advise divers to put their wrists into the cold water before diving off the boat, especially if they had been in the sun for a while. I doubt that opening the fridge after ironing would have the same effect, but I can see where it comes from.

Matilda

[sayanora]

I'm pretty certain the correct term is "espasmo/espasmer".

This is a common myth here as it doesn't not appear to be based on science given the multiple first aid training I've had over the years. I attribute it to the power of suggestion and the mind, in other words people here believe being hot and then being exposed to cold air or water will hurt them and thus their mind cause their mouth to spasm(typical symptom).

In fact when I first moved here my extended family through the wife tried to prevent me from doing it and even used to watch me run the hose over my head after doing exercises or running in the middle of the day waiting for me to go crazy. In the end they gave up. My wife still believes in it - for her anyway, jeje. My father in law and a couple of cuņados no longer believe in it and seem to be much happier when it really gets hot.





I've also talked to at least one doctor about this who believed in it. There is a supposed injection to prevent this from happening that many women who work in salons take. I expect it is just salt water. Such is the power of the mind.

AWESOME POST, btw, lots of doctors in La Vega believe in it apparently, not sure why.