San Diego woman's Costco escape shows how extreme heat can hit harder without AC

One San Diego resident's response to a heat wave has gone viral online. 

After sharing that high temperatures can exacerbate SSRI-caused hot flashes, Cam (@cambria.love) went to Costco to avoid the heat.

Here's what to know

In the caption of the TikTok post, Cam wrote, "This [heat] paired with the SSRI heat flashes will be the death of me. I'm not joking."

The video then showed the creator taking shelter in Costco's walk-in fridge.

@cambria.love14 This paired with the SSRI heat flashes will be the death of me. I'm not joking. #sandiego #sandiegoheatwave #ihavenoAC #immiserable ♬ original sound - Noah

The same high temperatures don't affect everyone in the same way. Even a relatively short burst of unusual heat can be much harder to handle in a home without AC, particularly when a medication's side effects include hot flashes or difficulty regulating body temperature.

Commenters described similar experiences. 

One person wrote, "Moving made me wonder how the f*** I ever grew up in Vegas… I barely want to go get my mail now yet I was purposely choosing to walk home from school instead of getting picked up?" 

Another commenter added, "Oh I could never… I tried this on Wednesday, my Costco receipt was almost $400. I think it would be cheaper to sit a home with the A.C on."

Why is this concerning?

Extreme heat can strain both the body and the budget, especially for renters, people without cooling at home, and anyone who has heat sensitivity.

And when temperatures don't cool down enough throughout the evening and into the next day, that can make it even harder for some people to regulate their body temperatures.

Where can I learn more?

If you've been in the U.S. at all over the last few months, you've likely experienced extreme heat yourself or at least heard others talking about it. 

• Across the U.S., understanding heat stroke warning signs can make the difference between life and death.

• In southern New England, doctors urged frequent breaks as temperatures climbed into the triple digits.

• New research shows extreme heat disrupts daily life, upending travel and basic routines.

While it's easy to feel extreme heat, it may be difficult to figure out what actions you can take to effectively address it. The above stories can show you how to handle extreme heat to keep yourself and others as safe as possible.

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