Garin's advice to women amid hot weather: Don't wear underwear at home

To avoid fungal infection amid the hot weather, House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo Representative Janette Garin has advised women not to wear underwear especially if they are just in the confines of their homes.

"Minsan lalo na nasa tag-init — wala lang malisya, 'no? — pero kung nasa bahay ka lang naman at matutulog, it's quite advisable na walang underwear pero naka-pajama ka naman o naka-shorts," said Garin, a physician and former Department of Health (DOH) secretary, as reported by Unang Balita on Tuesday.

"'Yung ventilation na iyan ay epektibo para mapigilan at hindi na lumala 'yung fungal infection," she added.

(No malice, but if you are just at home and sleeping, it's quite advisable not to wear underwear under your pajama or shorts. The ventilation will be effective against fungal infection.)

According to Garin, women are more susceptible to fungal infection if they are wearing tight clothes amid the hot weather.

The hot weather due to the dry season and the El Niño phenomenon has prompted many schools across the country to suspend face to face classes on Tuesday, April 2, so as not to put the children's health at risk.

PAGASA's weather specialist Obet Badrina on Monday warned that the heat index in the country may get worse this April.

Heat index is the measure of the temperature that a person feels, which is different from the actual air temperature. It is computed by factoring in the humidity as well as the air temperature. —KBK, GMA Integrated News