You’ve noticed some problems:
- Really loud snoring that keeps getting worse
- Gasping for air when you sleep
- Feeling tired all day, even after sleeping for hours
Now you’re wondering:do I need to see a specialist, or can my Parksville family doctor help me find out if I have sleep apnea?
If you’re waking up tired every day and you’re not sure what to do, you’re asking the right question. This guide explains if your family doctor can figure out if you have sleep apnea, how the process works in Parksville, and what steps come next.
Not Sure If You’re at Risk?
Take our free sleep apnea risk assessment before you see your doctor.
Can a Family Doctor Diagnose Sleep Apnea?
Yes, your family doctor can find out if you have sleep apnea. Here’s what happens:
| Step | What Your Doctor Does |
| 1. Assess Symptoms | Ask questions and use forms like the Epworth Sleepiness Scale to check how sleepy you feel during the day |
| 2. Physical Check-up | Look at your throat, neck size, and other things that might cause problems |
| 3. Order Sleep Test | Set up either a home test or a sleep clinic test that watches your breathing, heart, and sleep all night |
| 4. Review Results | Look at your AHI score, which counts how many times each hour you stop breathing while sleeping |
What BC Medical Covers
BC Medical pays for:
- Sleep tests when your doctor orders them
- You won’t have to pay anything yourself
- Works with local clinics in Parksville
Ready to get started? Learn more about sleep apnea testing in Parksville.
Your Family Doctor’s Role in Sleep Apnea Diagnosis
Your Parksville family doctor is where you start. They:
- Know all about your health history
- Understand what’s going on with you right now
- Can figure out if your tiredness and snoring might be sleep apnea
Official BC Guidelines
BC’s official rules for sleep apnea say that family doctors are really important for finding and diagnosing sleep apnea. These rules make sure you get good care whether you live in Parksville, Victoria, or anywhere else in British Columbia.
What Your Doctor Will Do at Your First Visit
Questions About Your Symptoms:
Your doctor will ask about:
- How you sleep
- If you snore
- If anyone has seen you stop breathing at night
- How you feel during the day
Be ready to talk about:
- Morning headaches
- Trouble focusing
- Mood problems
- Feeling tired
Your Health History:
Your doctor looks at things that make sleep apnea more likely:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Heart problems before
- If sleep apnea runs in your family
- Your weight (extra weight around your neck can block breathing when you sleep)
Physical Check-up:
Your doctor will:
- Look at your throat, neck, and airways
- Measure around your neck
- Check if your tonsils are big
- See if anything else might block your breathing while you sleep
Sleep Forms:
You’ll fill out forms that ask about:
- Snoring
- Tiredness
- If anyone’s seen you stop breathing
- Blood pressure
- Weight
- Age
- Neck size
- If you’re male or female
Get a Head Start
Fill out our online sleep apnea risk assessment to understand your risk better and be prepared when you go.
What Happens After Your First Appointment
If your doctor thinks you have sleep apnea, they’ll order a sleep test.
At North Cairn Medical, we:
- Work with local family doctors to make this easy
- Set up home sleep tests
- Work with sleep labs nearby if you need a bigger test
Sleep Testing Options in Parksville
Getting a sleep test doesn’t mean you have to go to Vancouver or sleep somewhere strange. People in Parksville havelocal choices that make things easier.
Home Sleep Tests (HST)
What It Is:
Sleep in your own bed while wearing a small device.
What It Checks:
- Oxygen levels
- Heart rate
- How you breathe
- What position you sleep in
- How loud you snore
How It Works:
- Pick up device from North Cairn Medical
- Wear it for 1+ nights at home
- Bring it back
- Get results in 1-2 weeks
| Good Things | Things to Know |
| Sleep in your own comfortable bed | Might not find other sleep problems |
| Don’t stay overnight at a clinic | Doesn’t check what sleep stage you’re in |
| BC Medical pays for it | Sometimes results aren’t clear |
| No ferry trip needed | Might need another test |
Sleep Lab Tests (Polysomnography)
When You Need This:
- Harder cases
- When home testing doesn’t give clear answers
What It Checks:
- Brain waves
- Eye movements
- Muscle activity
- Leg movements
- All your sleep stages
Where to Go:
- Nanaimo
- Victoria
Need Help Getting There?
Your family doctor helps set this up based on what you need.
Understanding Your Diagnosis: The AHI Score
AHI = Apnea-Hypopnea Index
This counts how many times each hour you:
- Stop breathing (apnea)
- Breathe too shallow (hypopnea)
What Your AHI Score Means
| AHI Score | What It Means |
| Higher numbers | You stop breathing more often |
| Lower numbers | Less severe sleep apnea |
Your doctor also looks at:
- Your oxygen levels while sleeping
- How sleep apnea affects your daily life
- Other health problems (high blood pressure, heart disease)
Important: Your doctor looks at everything together, not just one number.
What BC Medical Covers for Sleep Apnea
BC Medical Pays For:
- First visit with your family doctor
- Sleep test (home test or lab test) when your doctor says you need it
- Follow-up visits to talk about results and treatment
BC Medical Usually Doesn’t Pay For:
- CPAP machines and supplies(but many extra health plans do cover these)
- Mouth devices for sleep apnea treatment
- Special therapy devices
Coverage Can Change
To find out what’s covered right now, call BC Medical Services Plan or ask your doctor.
At North Cairn Medical, we help you:
- Understand what your insurance covers
- Learn about equipment costs
- Find payment plans
- Use any extra health benefits you have
From Diagnosis to Treatment: Your Next Steps
Good news: Treatments work really well, and lots of patients say they feel way better after they start treatment.
Treatment Options Your Doctor Might Talk About
CPAP Therapy
What it is: Machine that pushes steady air through a mask, keeping your airways open while you sleep
Works best for: Medium to bad sleep apnea
Learn more about CPAP therapy setup services and the help you can get locally.
Lifestyle Changes
For mild sleep apnea, your doctor might tell you to:
- Lose weight
- Not sleep on your back
- Drink less alcohol
- Treat stuffy noses
These changes can really help!
Mouth Devices
What they are: Dental devices that move your jaw and tongue forward
Work well for: Mild to medium sleep apnea
Your family doctor can send you to a dentist who knows about these devices.
Surgery
When it helps: Sometimes if the shape of your throat causes sleep apnea
Your doctor will talk about if this makes sense for you.
Getting Started with Treatment in Parksville
Local help means you get support for:
- Fitting your mask right
- Setting up your machine
- Fixing common problems
- Regular check-ups to make sure treatment works
- Taking care of your equipment
Ready for the Next Step?
Book a sleep health consultation to talk about your symptoms.
Common Questions About Sleep Apnea Diagnosis in Parksville
Do I need a specialist, or can my family doctor do everything?
For normal cases: Your family doctor can do everything
You only need a specialist if:
- Your case is really complicated
- You have other sleep problems besides sleep apnea
- The first treatments don’t work
How long does getting diagnosed take?
| Step | How Long |
| First doctor visit | A few days to a few weeks |
| Getting sleep test scheduled | Several weeks (home tests), longer (lab tests) |
| Getting results | 1-2 weeks after your sleep test |
Good news: Working with local providers often makes this faster than in big cities.
What if I don’t have a family doctor in Parksville?
Walk-in clinics can:
- Do the first check-up
- Give you a referral for sleep tests
But having your own family doctor helps with:
- Ongoing treatment
- Taking care of other health problems that often come with sleep apnea
Can I get tested without seeing a doctor first?
BC Medical only pays if a doctor orders it
A proper check-up makes sure your symptoms aren’t from:
- Thyroid problems
- Heart failure
- Medication side effects
What should I bring to my appointment?
Come ready with:
- List of your symptoms and how long you’ve had them
- Information about your sleep habits and bedroom
- Details about medications you take
- Anything your bed partner has noticed about your snoring or breathing
- Questions about diagnosis and treatment
Already Took Our Assessment?
If you’ve done our sleep apnea risk assessment, bring those results to show your doctor. This helps guide the conversation and shows how bad your symptoms are.
Have more questions? See our sleep apnea FAQs for more information.
Taking the First Step Toward Better Sleep
It’s Time to See Your Doctor If:
- You’re tired of feeling tired all the time
- Your partner moved to another room because of your snoring
- You’re worried about health problems from untreated sleep apnea
Why Your Parksville Family Doctor Is the Right Choice
- Can figure out if you have sleep apnea
- Helps you through the whole process
- No need to take the ferry to Vancouver
- No waiting months to see a specialist
- BC Medical pays for the diagnosis
- Get help right here on Vancouver Island
Sleep Apnea Can Be Managed
The diagnosis process might seem scary right now, but thousands of people in Parksville and across Vancouver Island have done this successfully and are sleeping better now.
Don’t Wait for Things to Get Worse
Make an appointment with your family doctor this week.
The sooner you start, the sooner you can:
- Wake up feeling good
- Have energy for things you love
- Feel like yourself again
