Dr. Alex Verge, ND
Healthy Aging
Cardiovascular Health
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, Clinic Director
My Core Beliefs…
Aging doesn’t equal dysfunction. Everyday we grow a little bit older and I believe that can be positive! Great things fall into place as we age: It’s been proven that we’re generally more tolerant and less bothered by events, we’re more confident (having a higher sense of self-worth and caring less about what others think), and we’re happier. But these points are rarely at the core of the conversation. The fact that we’re not feeling our best or our bodies aren’t quite working right is no longer considered worth investigating thoroughly. We’re told to just expect and accept changes as we get older. Many of those changes are normal of course, but that doesn’t mean aging is necessarily to blame.
You should be able to have a discussion about your cardiovascular situation and understand why (and how, and to what degree) your high blood pressure or high cholesterol or diabetes influences your health today and tomorrow. I can walk you through your unique situation so you can gain a better understanding of what it means to your overall health.
I believe that getting older doesn’t automatically entail a cascade of prescription medications. There are so many often-disregarded factors that can contribute to such things as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritic pain, fatigue, memory changes, and indigestion. Let’s explore these factors together.
Things I Love:
Things that bring me joy include vegetables from our local farm share, my sisters, talking to my dog, discussing the state of the world with my partner, reading speculative fiction, chilled rosé, the rough feel of the Canadian Shield under my hands, and watching our clinic’s edible landscape come together year after year.
The Technical Version:
Dr. Alexandra Verge is a naturopathic doctor living and working in downtown Guelph. She contemplated becoming a veterinarian or a dietician before realizing that naturopathic medicine was a perfect fit that combined her interest in health and nutrition. She graduated with distinction from both the University of Guelph (with a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences) and the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. She’s registered to practice in Ontario and is a proud member of both her provincial and federal associations.
Alex launched her solo practice, Verge Naturopathic Clinic, over 20 years ago. The clinic has since grown into the multi-disciplinary Kura Clinic you see today. Through thousands of visits over that time, Alex has supported people from all walks of life on their journey to better health. In recent years, she has zeroed in on issues commonly experienced as we age: arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, generational stresses and, in particular, cardiovascular disease.
As part of her commitment to her community, Alex has spoken about healthy aging to both the Guelph Wellington Seniors Association and at the Guelph Public Library a number of times. In recent years, she has also been offering continuing education about integrative cardiovascular care to her naturopathic peers.