I think this article describes it well, including the absolute cultural prevalence, belief, and influence :). It is written in regard to a single country (Croatia) but applies to Balkans and few other parts of Europe as well:

https://zablogreb.wordpress.com/2012/12/26/propuh-or-the-gre...

In Sweden too, at least a generation back or two, it was like this.

Incredibly interesting, thanks!

Sounds like Eastern Europe to me.

My family members used to yell at me for sitting down on a stone fence or concrete bench, because something something cold stone ... lower back / kidney disease.

The same irrational belief is common in Germany as well. Cold air is thought to cause things like the common cold and bronchitis.

Some people would feel a slight draft indoors and immediately start yelling for the windows to be closed.

I knew a very wealthy guy in Germany who bought a Mercedes 560SEL - at the time, the top-of-the-line model. He ordered it without air conditioning because he didn't want to get bronchitis.

“Es zieht!”