Nephrology is the branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the kidneys. Nephrologists are healthcare providers who specialize in kidney disease. Other health providers at Halifax Health who treat kidney problems include our primary care providers, pediatricians, transplant specialists and urologists.
Kidney failure, kidney stones and kidney cancer all can be results of kidney problems. The three main reasons are:
Aging – As we age, changes in the structure of the kidneys can cause them to lose some of their ability to remove wastes from the blood. The muscles in the ureters, bladder and urethra also tend to lose some of their strength. But this alone does not cause chronic kidney diseases.
Illness or Injury – Damage to the kidneys caused by illness, inflammation, immune responses, or an injury can also prevent them from filtering the blood completely or block the passage of urine. Diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) are 2 leading causes of kidney disease.
Toxicity – The kidneys may be damaged by substances, such as certain medicines, a buildup of some substances in the body, or toxic substances such as poisons.
The body takes nutrients from food and converts them to energy. After the body has used all the food components that it needs, waste products are left behind in the bowel and the blood.
The kidneys and urinary system help to excrete the waste products. They also keep chemicals, such as potassium and sodium, and water in balance. Kidneys filter and remove several toxic materials from the body that are the products of food metabolism. These waste materials can cause problems in the body if they build up. The kidneys also control the fluid and acid-base balance in the body
The kidneys are 2 bean-shaped organs. They are located below the ribs toward the middle of the back. Their function is to:
Along with filtering waste from the blood and helping in the balance of fluids and other substances in the body, the kidneys do other vital functions. The kidneys:
| 1200 West Granada Blvd, Ste 6A, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
| 4645 S. Clyde Morris Blvd, Ste 408, Port Orange, FL 32127 |
4641 S Clyde Morris Blvd., Unit 201, Port Orange, FL 32129
Sajid Latif, MD is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Nephrology and has been a longstanding member of the Volusia County Medical Society. Dr. Latif completed his Internal Medicine fellowship at Georgetown University, D.C. General Hospital in Washington, D.C. and his Nephrology fellowship at St. Johns Hospital in Detroit, MI.
As a Transplant Nephrologist, Dr. Latif has years of experience in the care and treatment of pre and post-transplant patients. He is currently serving as the Medical Director for Kidney Transplantation at the Halifax Health – Center for Transplant Services.
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| 821 State Rd. 44, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168 |
1180 N Williamson, Ste. 100, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Book Appointment| 335 Clyde Morris Blvd., Suite 260, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
Since 2008, Halifax Health – Center for Transplant Services has successfully performed more than 100 kidney transplants for patients with end-stage kidney failure. To elevate our program and continue our mission to provide exceptional care to our patients, Halifax Health entered an affiliation with UF Health Shands Transplant Center in 2017. UF Health was the first transplant center in the state of Florida to complete a kidney transplant. This affiliation gives us the ability to help more patients and save more lives.
