Boonah and Kalbar Medical Centres

Sleep apnea is a common disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by pauses or shallow breathing during sleep, which can lead to interruptions in oxygen supply to the brain and body. There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which occurs when the airway becomes blocked during sleep, and central sleep apnea (CSA), which occurs when the brain fails to send signals to the muscles that control breathing.

Symptoms of sleep apnea may include loud snoring, gasping or choking sounds during sleep, frequent awakenings throughout the night, morning headaches, excessive daytime sleepiness, and difficulty concentrating or remembering things. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to serious health complications, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and depression.

Diagnosis of sleep apnea typically involves an overnight sleep study, known as polysomnography, which measures various physiological parameters during sleep, including brain activity, eye movement, muscle tone, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and heart rate. Treatment options for sleep apnea may include lifestyle changes, such as weight loss, positional therapy, or avoiding alcohol and sedatives before bedtime; use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to keep the airway open during sleep; oral appliance therapy to reposition the tongue or lower jaw; or surgery to remove excess tissue from the airway.

In summary, sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder that can lead to various health complications if left untreated. Diagnosis typically involves an overnight sleep study, and treatment may include lifestyle changes, use of a CPAP machine, oral appliance therapy, or surgery. If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea, it's important to consult with a healthcare provider for proper evaluation and management.

Ross River virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in Australia, with the majority of cases occurring in Queensland. The virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, which can be found in a variety of environments including urban and rural areas.

Typical symptoms of Ross River virus include joint pain and swelling, muscle pain, fatigue, fever, and rash. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and usually develop between 3-11 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. The duration of the illness can vary, but most people will recover within several weeks.

While there is no specific treatment for Ross River virus, full recovery is the usual outcome. Simple analgesia (such as paracetamol or ibuprofen) and rest are often recommended to help manage symptoms. Patients are advised to avoid strenuous activity whilst the symptoms are present.

In Queensland, there were 2,418 confirmed cases of Ross River virus in 2019 and 3488 cases in 2020, however this is the tip of an iceberg as many cases of Ross River virus are relatively mild and go unreported or undiagnosed.