What are the opening hours?

Monday 09:00 - 17:00 Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00 Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00 Thursday 09:00 - 17:00 Friday 09:00 - 17:00 Saturday 09:00 - 13:00

Dr Siva Blood Specialist - Kuala Lumpur

Home
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur
Dr Siva Blood Specialist - Kuala Lumpur

Call Directions Website Contact the practice

I’m Dr. Sivakumar Palaniappan, Consultant Haematologist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur.

I provide expert diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of blood disorders, including anaemia, leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, and clotting or platelet abnormalities.

13/07/2026

𝗜𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝘁

Iron deficiency anaemia is not something to brush aside.

If ignored, it can lead to serious complications.

According to Dr Siva, iron is needed to make red blood cells. When the body does not have enough iron, it produces less haemoglobin.

And when haemoglobin drops, the blood carries less oxygen around the body.

If this continues without treatment, the consequences can become much more serious.

Possible complications may include:

* Severe tiredness and weakness
* Fainting spells or fainting episodes
* Reduced oxygen delivery to important organs
* Heart strain
* Chest pain or angina
* In serious cases, heart complications including heart attack

This is why early detection matters.

The earlier iron deficiency anaemia is picked up, the earlier it can be treated before complications develop.

The key message is simple: Do not ignore the warning signs.

If you have tiredness, giddiness, breathlessness, palpitations, fainting, or symptoms that are getting worse, get checked early.

A simple blood test can help identify the problem, and proper treatment can help prevent more serious complications.

Dr Sivakumar Palaniappan is a Consultant Haematologist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. He specialises in blood diseases, blood cancers, stem cell transplantation, and advanced cell and gene therapies including CAR-T cell therapy.

Like and share this video to help more people understand why iron deficiency anaemia should never be ignored.

For more help visit: https://drsivabloodspecialist.com

10/07/2026

𝗜𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿?

There is a difference between iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia.

This is why doctors do not only look at one blood test result.

According to Dr Siva, when assessing iron deficiency anaemia, doctors usually look at three important iron study markers:

* Serum iron
* Transferrin saturation
* Ferritin

Ferritin is important because it tells us about the body’s iron stores.

In the early stage of iron deficiency, ferritin is usually one of the first things to drop.

This means low ferritin can be an early warning sign that a patient may go on to develop iron deficiency anaemia.

That is why checking ferritin matters.

It can help detect low iron stores before the anaemia becomes more obvious.

But there is one important point.

Ferritin can sometimes be falsely elevated.

This can happen when there is inflammation or infection in the body.

So in some patients, ferritin alone may not give the full picture.

If a patient has iron deficiency anaemia together with inflammation or infection, doctors may rely more on other tests such as serum iron and transferrin saturation.

The key message is simple:
Ferritin helps show your iron stores.

But it must be interpreted together with the full clinical picture and other iron study results.

If you are tired, dizzy, breathless, losing hair, having heavy periods, or have symptoms that may suggest low iron, get properly assessed.

Dr Sivakumar Palaniappan is a Consultant Haematologist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. He specialises in blood diseases, blood cancers, stem cell transplantation, and advanced cell and gene therapies including CAR-T cell therapy.

Like and share this video to help more people understand why ferritin matters in iron deficiency anaemia.

For more help visit: https://drsivabloodspecialist.com

08/07/2026

𝗜𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮: 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘃𝘆 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗜𝘁?

Heavy menstrual bleeding is not something women should just “put up with”.

According to Dr Siva, prolonged or heavy menstrual bleeding can lead to severe or even absolute iron deficiency anaemia.

This is especially important in women of childbearing age.

In fact, around 30 to 40% of women in this group may develop iron deficiency anaemia due to prolonged menstrual bleeding.

Why does this happen?

Because ongoing blood loss means the body keeps losing iron.

And when iron levels fall, the body cannot produce enough haemoglobin to carry oxygen properly.

This can lead to symptoms such as:

- Tiredness and lethargy
- Giddiness
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
- Weakness
- Poor concentration

The key message is simple:

If your menstrual bleeding is heavy, prolonged or affecting how you feel, do not ignore it.

Get it checked early.

Early review with a gynaecologist is important, both to control the bleeding and to prevent iron deficiency anaemia from becoming more severe.

A proper blood test and assessment can help identify the problem early and guide the right treatment.

Dr Sivakumar Palaniappan is a Consultant Haematologist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. He specialises in blood diseases, blood cancers, stem cell transplantation, and advanced cell and gene therapies including CAR-T cell therapy.

Like and share this video to help more women recognise that heavy menstrual bleeding can be an important cause of iron deficiency anaemia.

For more help visit: https://drsivabloodspecialist.com

07/07/2026

𝗜𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮: 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻?

Always feeling exhausted?

It may not just be stress, poor sleep or a busy lifestyle.

Iron deficiency anaemia can make a person feel tired and exhausted all the time.

This happens because low haemoglobin reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen around the body.

And when the body gets less oxygen, energy levels can drop significantly.

The severity of the exhaustion often depends on how low the haemoglobin is.

If the iron deficiency anaemia is mild, the tiredness may be felt more during exertion, such as:

- Walking longer distances
- Climbing stairs
- Exercising
- Doing physically demanding daily activities

But as the anaemia becomes more severe and haemoglobin levels fall further, the exhaustion can become much more obvious.

In more advanced cases, patients may feel tired even at rest.

That means even normal daily activities can start to feel difficult.

The key message is simple: If you are constantly exhausted, especially if it is getting worse or happening even without exertion, do not ignore it.

It may be a sign of iron deficiency anaemia.

Early assessment and a simple blood test can help identify the cause and allow treatment to start early.

Dr Sivakumar Palaniappan is a Consultant Haematologist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. He specialises in blood diseases, blood cancers, stem cell transplantation, and advanced cell and gene therapies including CAR-T cell therapy.

Like and share this video to help more people understand that constant exhaustion can sometimes be caused by iron deficiency anaemia.

For more help visit: https://drsivabloodspecialist.com

03/07/2026

𝗜𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮: 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻

Pregnancy increases the body’s need for iron.

This becomes especially important in the third trimester, when both the mother and baby need more nutrition and support.

According to Dr Siva, iron deficiency anaemia during pregnancy can be harmful for both the mother and the baby.

That is why it should never be ignored.

When iron levels are too low during pregnancy, it may lead to important health risks and complications.

The key message is simple:

- Recognise it early.
- Treat it early.
- Protect both mother and baby.

Pregnant mothers should be assessed properly if they feel unusually tired, weak, breathless, dizzy or unwell.

Early diagnosis and treatment can make a major difference.

If iron deficiency anaemia is detected early, treatment can be started promptly and monitored properly throughout the pregnancy.

This is particularly important during the third trimester, when iron requirements are higher.

Dr Sivakumar Palaniappan is a Consultant Haematologist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. He specialises in blood diseases, blood cancers, stem cell transplantation, and advanced cell and gene therapies including CAR-T cell therapy.

Like and share this video to help more mothers and families understand why iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy should be taken seriously.

For more help visit: https://drsivabloodspecialist.com

01/07/2026

𝗜𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮: 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗜𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗜𝘁?

Can iron deficiency anaemia be passed down from your parents?

Iron deficiency anaemia is not usually a genetic problem.

Patients do not inherit iron deficiency anaemia in the way some blood conditions can be inherited.

Instead, it is usually linked to external causes.

These may include:

* Poor dietary intake
* Poor iron absorption
* Chronic inflammation
* Chronic infection
* Increased iron needs
* Ongoing blood loss

This is an important difference.

If someone has iron deficiency anaemia, the focus should not just be on replacing iron.

The real question is: Why is the iron low?

It may be due to diet, gut absorption issues, heavy periods, bleeding, chronic illness or increased body demand.

That is why proper assessment is important.

A blood test can confirm iron deficiency anaemia, but a specialist will also look for the cause behind it.

The key message is simple: Iron deficiency anaemia is usually not inherited.

It is commonly caused by something happening in the body or lifestyle that needs to be identified and treated.

Dr Sivakumar Palaniappan is a Consultant Haematologist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. He specialises in blood diseases, blood cancers, stem cell transplantation, and advanced cell and gene therapies including CAR-T cell therapy.

Like and share this video to help more people understand that iron deficiency anaemia is usually caused by external factors, not inheritance.

For more help visit: https://drsivabloodspecialist.com

30/06/2026

𝗜𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘀?

The good news is this:
For most patients, the prognosis of iron deficiency anaemia is very good.

But this depends on a few important things.

First, the condition needs to be identified early.

Second, the underlying cause needs to be found.

Third, that underlying cause must be treated properly.

Patients can do very well when iron deficiency anaemia is diagnosed early and managed correctly.

This is especially important in patients with chronic health issues such as:

- Chronic heart failure
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic bleeding problems

These patients may need closer follow-up and ongoing monitoring.

Even after iron levels improve with diet or iron supplementation, treatment should not stop at just “feeling better”.

Patients still need to be monitored to make sure:

- Their iron levels remain stable
- Their symptoms do not return
- The underlying cause is being corrected properly

When all of this is done well, the outcome is usually very positive.

In many cases, iron deficiency anaemia can be controlled effectively, allowing patients to return to normal daily activities and enjoy a healthier quality of life.

The key message is simple:
Iron deficiency anaemia is very treatable, but early diagnosis, proper follow-up and treating the root cause make all the difference.

Dr Sivakumar Palaniappan is a Consultant Haematologist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. He specialises in blood diseases, blood cancers, stem cell transplantation, and advanced cell and gene therapies including CAR-T cell therapy.

Like and share this video to help more people understand that iron deficiency anaemia has a very good outlook when treated properly.

For more help visit: https://drsivabloodspecialist.com

24/06/2026

𝗜𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲?

Iron deficiency anaemia does not improve at the same speed for everyone.

How long treatment takes depends on the treatment method used.

It also depends on whether the underlying cause has been found and treated.

According to Dr Siva, the general treatment timeline may look like this:

1) Diet Alone:

* If you rely only on diet to rebuild iron levels, it can take around 200 to 300 days.
* This is because food can help restore iron, but it is usually a slow process.

2) Oral Iron Supplements:

*Oral iron can usually improve iron levels faster than diet alone.
*In many patients, it may take around 100 to 200 days to increase iron levels to where they need to be.

3) Intravenous Iron:

* IV iron can increase iron levels much faster.
* For suitable patients, iron levels can improve within 1 to 2 weeks.

But there is one important point:

Treatment speed is not only about how iron is replaced.

It also depends on whether the real cause is treated.

If a patient continues to lose blood from heavy periods, gut bleeding, haemorrhoids or another medical issue, the iron deficiency may come back again.

That is why the most important step is to identify and treat the underlying source of the problem.

The goal is not just to raise iron levels.

The goal is to stop the iron deficiency from recurring.

Dr Sivakumar Palaniappan is a Consultant Haematologist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. He specialises in blood diseases, blood cancers, stem cell transplantation, and advanced cell and gene therapies including CAR-T cell therapy.

Like and share this video to help more people understand that iron deficiency treatment takes time and needs the right cause to be treated.

For more help visit: https://drsivabloodspecialist.com

22/06/2026

𝗜𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗜𝘀 𝗜𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱?

Treating iron deficiency anaemia is not just about taking iron.

It is also about finding out why the iron became low in the first place.

According to Dr Siva, treatment usually covers 4 main areas.

1) Diet:

Iron can come from animal-based and plant-based food sources.

However, using diet alone to rebuild iron levels can be a slow process. It may take a long time for the body to replenish its iron stores through diet alone.

2) Oral iron supplements:

Oral iron supplements are commonly used to correct low iron.

However, some patients may experience stomach or gut side effects, such as:

* Constipation
* Bloating
* Nausea
* Vomiting

This is one reason some patients may not tolerate oral iron well.

3) Intravenous iron:

Intravenous iron may be considered for patients who:

* Have very low iron
* Are symptomatic
* Cannot tolerate oral iron

This is usually given in a daycare setting.

The medical team will check the patient’s allergy history, administer the iron through a vein, monitor the patient after the infusion, and arrange follow-up blood tests to review iron levels.

4) Treating the underlying cause:

This is the most important part.

If iron deficiency is due to bleeding from the gut, the patient may need early referral to a gastroenterologist or surgeon.

If it is due to heavy menstrual bleeding, referral to a gynaecologist may be needed to control the bleeding.

The goal is not only to correct the iron level.

The goal is to stop the problem from recurring.

If you have iron deficiency anaemia, do not just ask, “What supplement should I take?”

Ask the more important question: Why is my iron low?

Dr Sivakumar Palaniappan is a Consultant Haematologist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. He specialises in blood diseases, blood cancers, stem cell transplantation, and advanced cell and gene therapies including CAR-T cell therapy.

Like and share this video to help more people understand how iron deficiency anaemia is treated properly.

For more help visit: https://drsivabloodspecialist.com

19/06/2026

𝗜𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗮: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗜𝘀 𝗜𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱?

Diagnosing iron deficiency anaemia is not just about confirming that your iron is low.

The more important question is: Why is your iron low in the first place?

When a patient sees a haematologist, the first step is a proper medical history and physical examination.

This includes looking at:

* How long the symptoms have been present
* How severe the tiredness, breathlessness or giddiness is
* Diet pattern
* Gastric or stomach symptoms
* Menstrual history in female patients
* Any signs of bleeding or other possible causes

The doctor will also examine the patient for signs such as paleness, and look for clues that may explain the cause of the anaemia.

After that, blood tests are done.

A full blood count can show:

* Low haemoglobin
* The size and type of red blood cells
* Whether the anaemia pattern suggests iron deficiency

Iron studies are also important.

These usually look at:

* Serum iron levels
* Transferrin saturation
* Ferritin levels

These results help the doctor understand both the day-to-day iron level and the body’s iron stores.

But diagnosis should not stop there.

Once iron deficiency anaemia is confirmed, the next important step is to find the cause.

For example:

* If there are gastric symptoms or bleeding haemorrhoids, the patient may need an upper scope or colonoscopy
* If there is heavy menstrual bleeding, the patient may be referred to a gynaecologist
* Other tests may be needed depending on the patient’s history and examination

The blood test diagnosis can be quick.

But finding the cause is what allows proper treatment and long-term recovery.

The key message: Do not just treat the low iron. Find out why it is happening.

Dr Sivakumar Palaniappan is a Consultant Haematologist at Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur. He specialises in blood diseases, blood cancers, stem cell transplantation, and advanced cell and gene therapies including CAR-T cell therapy.

Like and share this video to help more people understand how iron deficiency anaemia is properly diagnosed.

For more help visit: https://drsivabloodspecialist.com

Address

Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Block A, Level 5, A539, 8, Jalan Bukit Pantai
Kuala Lumpur
59100

Opening Hours

Monday	09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 17:00
Thursday	09:00 - 17:00
Friday	09:00 - 17:00
Saturday	09:00 - 13:00

Telephone

+60177878293

Website

https://drsivabloodspecialist.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dr Siva Blood Specialist - Kuala Lumpur posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Dr Siva Blood Specialist - Kuala Lumpur:

Want your practice to be the top-listed clinic in Kuala Lumpur?