HEALTH & LIFESTYLE HOW TO BEAT NOROVIRUS (without bugging your GP) N

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BRITISH firm Simba – who make the ‘mattress in a box’ – launched in early 2016 to rave reviews.

The box can be delivered to your home, and then the mattress, carefully rolled up for transit, expands to size once taken out. Combining five layers of memory foam with 2,500 patented conical pocket springs, it promises to be ultra-supportive and comfy, while the ‘breath in, breathe out’ hypoallergenic air flow surface helps with temperature control. There’s a ‘100-night no hassle return service’ if you’re not happy, and 10-year guarantee. OROVIRUS has been in the headlines a fair bit lately – there have been hospital ward closures due to outbreaks, 300 people reportedly fell ill following a suspected outbreak of the virus at the Wahaca restaurant chain, and cases are said to be 45% higher than this time last year, according to public health figures.

And that’s only official lab reports; many more will have been struck with the dreaded ‘winter vomiting bug’ but not gone ‘on record’.

But what exactly should you do if you or your family gets norovirus? GP and media medic Dr Roger Henderson offers some advice...

“The dangers of dehydration include reduced levels of consciousness, impact on your kidney function, altered confused states, and more prone to falls in the elderly,” says Dr Henderson. “In children, you will get lethargy and weakness.”

If anyone’s showing worrying signs, or if symptoms don’t clear after a few days and you’re concerned, phone your GP surgery or local out-ofhours or NHS helpline (of course, if somebody’s very