Dr. Aseem Desai

07/24/2025

Heart disease remains a top cause of not only mortality but morbidity related to hospitalizations and reduced quality of life. Thank you to Providence health system for supporting top-notch cardiovascular care.

07/15/2025

Atrial fibrillation is a major cause of stroke, heart failure, and reduced quality of life. Growing evidence suggests a strong link with dementia including Alzheimer’s. Join Mission Heritage Heart Rhythm Specialists in this free online class with Mission Hospital where we discuss everything you need to know at each stage of atrial fibrillation, or AFib, from prevention to diagnosis and treatment.

Register for this free online class today: http://ms.spr.ly/6046Sx56s

Mission Hospital Providence health system Heart Rhythm Society American Heart Association

07/15/2025

Atrial fibrillation is a major cause of stroke, heart failure, and reduced quality of life. Growing evidence suggests a strong link with dementia including Alzheimer’s. Join Mission Heritage Heart Rhythm Specialists in this free online class with Mission Hospital where we discuss everything you need to know at each stage of atrial fibrillation, or AFib, from prevention to diagnosis and treatment.

Register for this free online class today: http://ms.spr.ly/6046Sx56s

07/01/2025

👉Have you ever felt off—but couldn’t quite name why?
🫀A fast heartbeat, a tight chest, a wave of overwhelm.
🫁We tell people to take a deep breath.
But sometimes, the better question is:
Have you taken your own pulse first?

One of my patients thought something was wrong with her heart.
The EKG was normal.
What wasn’t normal was everything else—grief, stress, exhaustion.
Once she named it, her body finally exhaled.

That moment became the seed for Pulse—a new space I’m creating to explore what throws us out of rhythm… and how we find it again.

If you’re curious about how the rhythm of your heartbeat connects to your clarity, perception, and well-being—
Check out the first two posts on my Substack and a recent piece in Psychology Today.

🔗 [Link in bio]

07/01/2025

👉Have you ever felt off but couldn’t quite name why?

👉Do you ever sense something’s misaligned in your body, your thoughts, or your relationships?

👉What if the answer starts with your heartbeat?

A patient once came to me convinced she had a dangerous heart rhythm. Her EKG was normal. What wasn’t normal was the pressure she carried, grief she hadn’t named, and a life out of sync. As we talked, her symptoms softened. Not because of a prescription, but because someone finally listened. Being heard led to more accurate perception of her symptoms and what story they were really telling.

That’s what my new Substack, Pulse, is about.

It’s a space I’ve created to explore how the rhythms of our hearts reflect the rhythms of our lives, and what happens when those rhythms fall out of sync. In medicine, we often say “take your own pulse first” before helping others. I believe that holds true in life too.

In my first few pieces, I explore:
• The power of pausing and checking in with your own body and perception
• Three stories about the impact curiosity, vulnerability, and humility can have on how we connect with ourselves and each other
• What we miss when we treat symptoms without listening for meaning

If any of that resonates, I’d be honored if you’d read, reflect, or share:

🫀Take Your Own Pulse First
❓The Courage to Ask
🩺 When a Racing Heart Isn’t Just Physical (Psychology Today)

We’re all trying to find clarity in a noisy world. Sometimes, the first step is to listen for your own rhythm.

SUBSTACK:
https://open.substack.com/pub/draseemdesai/p/take-your-own-pulse-first?r=2tftra&utm_medium=ios

https://open.substack.com/pub/draseemdesai/p/the-courage-to-ask?r=2tftra&utm_medium=ios

PSYCHOLOGY TODAY:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mindful-beats/202506/take-your-own-pulse-first



Psychology Today American Heart Association - Healthy for Good American Medical Association American Psychological Association

“At a cardiac arrest, the first procedure is to take your own pulse first.”

05/26/2025

Honored to collaborate with the Providence marketing team and share insights from our work in cardiac electrophysiology. At Mission Hospital’s nationally recognized Heart and Vascular Institute, we’re not just treating hearts—we’re saving lives.

Did you know?
• Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) affects over 6 million Americans and increases the risk of stroke fivefold.
• Sudden Cardiac Arrest causes nearly 360,000 deaths annually in the U.S.—more than stroke, lung cancer, and breast cancer combined.
• Many arrhythmias are silent but life-threatening—and early diagnosis and intervention can make all the difference.

Grateful to be part of a team committed to advancing care and empowering patients through innovation, compassion, and excellence.



Heart Rhythm Society

01/26/2025

🚨 New article alert! 🚨

Have you ever wondered why the most confident voices often dominate the conversation—yet they aren’t always the wisest? My latest piece for Psychology Today explores The Paradox of Certainty, inspired by Bertrand Russell's thought-provoking quote:

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts."

In this article, I unpack the relationship between doubt, wisdom, and intellectual humility, shedding light on why embracing uncertainty can lead to deeper understanding and personal growth.

Check it out here: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mindful-beats/202501/the-paradox-of-certainty

Would love to hear your thoughts—how do you balance confidence and curiosity in your life? 🤔

Are the loudest voices really the wisest? Doubt, not certainty, is the hallmark of true wisdom and so embracing uncertainty can deepen understanding and foster growth.

01/09/2025

Friends, the fires blazing across Los Angeles County have left many with nothing—homes destroyed, lives disrupted, and hearts heavy with grief. This could happen to any of us, reminding us of our shared humanity and the strength we find when we come together.

Let us lift our voices and prayers to God, pleading for His intervention.

“He covers the sky with clouds; He supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.”(Psalm 147:8)

We ask for rain to quench the flames, protection for the brave firefighters, and comfort for those who are suffering.

We also call on the government to step in with swift action and resources, and for insurance companies to honor their promises with compassion and urgency. Together, as a community, we can bring hope and relief to those in need.

Pray. Advocate. Act. Together, we are stronger, and with God’s grace, healing and renewal are possible.

01/08/2025

The Hidden Gift in Failure

Failure. A word that often triggers feelings of shame, disappointment, or frustration. Yet, what if we reframed it? What if failure was not an end, but a profound beginning—a gift wrapped in disguise?

As Richelle E. Goodrich beautifully reminds us:
“Many times what we perceive as an error or failure is actually a gift. And eventually we find that lessons learned from that discouraging experience prove to be of great worth.”

Every stumble we face contains a seed of growth. The failed exam, the missed opportunity, the broken relationship—all of these moments, painful as they are, hold the power to shape us into wiser, more compassionate versions of ourselves. It’s not about avoiding failure; it’s about leaning into it, embracing the lessons it offers, and allowing it to guide us forward.

Three Ways to Embrace Failure as a Gift
1. Shift Your Perspective:
Instead of asking, “Why did this happen to me?” ask, “What is this teaching me?” This small change opens the door to curiosity and growth rather than judgment and regret.
2. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection:
Failure is often a sign you are trying, stretching, and daring to grow. Celebrate the courage it took to step outside your comfort zone, even if the result wasn’t what you hoped for.
3. Turn Setbacks into Stepping Stones:
Each failure is a lesson in resilience. Reflect on what went wrong, extract the wisdom, and use it to build a stronger foundation for future success.

A Meditation on Failure:

Take a moment to sit quietly and reflect:
1. Think of a recent failure or mistake that discouraged you.
2. Imagine it as a closed door, but behind it is an open window of opportunity.
3. What did this moment teach you? How can you use this lesson to move forward with strength and grace?

Failure, when reframed, becomes not a scar but a story—a testament to your growth, strength, and unyielding spirit. Share your lessons with others, and together, we can redefine failure not as a flaw, but as a friend guiding us to new possibilities.

Explore More on Calm:

If this resonates with you, check out the Calm app on finding the gifts in failure.

01/08/2025

The Hidden Gift in Failure

Failure. A word that often triggers feelings of shame, disappointment, or frustration. Yet, what if we reframed it? What if failure was not an end, but a profound beginning—a gift wrapped in disguise?

As Richelle E. Goodrich beautifully reminds us:
“Many times what we perceive as an error or failure is actually a gift. And eventually we find that lessons learned from that discouraging experience prove to be of great worth.”

Every stumble we face contains a seed of growth. The failed exam, the missed opportunity, the broken relationship—all of these moments, painful as they are, hold the power to shape us into wiser, more compassionate versions of ourselves. It’s not about avoiding failure; it’s about leaning into it, embracing the lessons it offers, and allowing it to guide us forward.

A Meditation on Failure:

Take a moment to sit quietly and reflect:
1. Think of a recent failure or mistake that discouraged you.
2. Imagine it as a closed door, but behind it is an open window of opportunity.
3. What did this moment teach you? How can you use this lesson to move forward with strength and grace?

01/08/2025

The Hidden Gift in Failure

Failure. A word that often triggers feelings of shame, disappointment, or frustration. Yet, what if we reframed it? What if failure was not an end, but a profound beginning—a gift wrapped in disguise?

As Richelle E. Goodrich beautifully reminds us:
“Many times what we perceive as an error or failure is actually a gift. And eventually we find that lessons learned from that discouraging experience prove to be of great worth.”

Every stumble we face contains a seed of growth. The failed exam, the missed opportunity, the broken relationship—all of these moments, painful as they are, hold the power to shape us into wiser, more compassionate versions of ourselves. It’s not about avoiding failure; it’s about leaning into it, embracing the lessons it offers, and allowing it to guide us forward.

Three Ways to Embrace Failure as a Gift
1. Shift Your Perspective:
Instead of asking, “Why did this happen to me?” ask, “What is this teaching me?” This small change opens the door to curiosity and growth rather than judgment and regret.
2. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection:
Failure is often a sign you are trying, stretching, and daring to grow. Celebrate the courage it took to step outside your comfort zone, even if the result wasn’t what you hoped for.
3. Turn Setbacks into Stepping Stones:
Each failure is a lesson in resilience. Reflect on what went wrong, extract the wisdom, and use it to build a stronger foundation for future success.

A Meditation on Failure:

Take a moment to sit quietly and reflect:
1. Think of a recent failure or mistake that discouraged you.
2. Imagine it as a closed door, but behind it is an open window of opportunity.
3. What did this moment teach you? How can you use this lesson to move forward with strength and grace?

Failure, when reframed, becomes not a scar but a story—a testament to your growth, strength, and unyielding spirit. Share your lessons with others, and together, we can redefine failure not as a flaw, but as a friend guiding us to new possibilities.

Explore More on Calm:

If this resonates with you, I think you’d enjoy this session from Calm on finding the gifts in failure.