The Mind Drives The Body: Wellstar’s Dr. Earl Stewart, Jr. talks health equity, wellness

The Latin phrase “mens agitat molem” translates to “the mind drives the body.” In other words, a healthy mind will set the foundation for a healthy person. Wellstar Health System Medical Director of Health Equity, Dr. Earl Stewart, Jr., shared that phrase, one of his favorites, when he was a Latin minor during his pre-med undergrad days at Mercer University in Macon, during an interview at The Atlanta Voice office on Friday, April 3. 

Stewart, a father and husband, said he likes mens agitat molem because it encompasses what he shares with his Wellstar patients here in Atlanta.

“It’s important to lessen the burden of health concerns,” Stewart, a native Georgian, said. “Diet is one of the three components of lifestyle behaviors that affects health. Diet, exercise is second, and third is stress reduction. Together they represent the foundation of health.”

As a primary care physician, Stewart said the hardest thing is getting adult patients to change their lifestyle behaviors to improve health outcomes. He used the word “crucial” to emphasize the importance of the mindset over medication. Not to lessen the importance of medication, but to make clear that, along with medicine, the three foundations, diet, exercise, and stress reduction, are non-pharmacological ways to take care of oneself. 

“It’s also important to lessen the burden of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and those types of issues,” Stewart says. 

And contrary to popular belief, those diseases do not associate with people of a certain age, according to Stewart. He said that younger patients are also facing similar health challenges, and that preventive measures should be taken by one and all. 

“Believe it or not, in that younger population of patients, we may see pre-diabetes, we see high cholesterol. With youth, there’s often a feeling of invincibility, so I always say it’s important for them to engage with their healthcare providers and focus so much on prevention. 

Prevention is crucial to keeping the entire population healthy.”

The doctor also recommended making sleep a priority. He says it’s not always easy for adults with careers, jobs, or multiple responsibilities to prioritize sleep, but that can lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. 

“I have these conversations with patients who are 30-somethings, have been married a few years, have small babies, are upwardly mobile within their community, are gainfully employed, so all of that coming together is impacting their ability to get quality sleep at night,” Stewart, who worked in rural communities during his career, explained. “You can’t take care of all of your responsibilities if you’re drained and you’re not feeling good.”

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) backs up Stewarts’ statements with data and research showing that sleeping well supports the function of vital organs like the heart and lungs and our immune systems.

There are certainly factors in individual lives that always allow for routine visits to a primary care physician, a safe, quiet place to get some sleep, or a healthy meal. 

But there’s one healthy activity we all can certainly do that is both effective and free: walking. Stewaret says walking is a good way to raise the heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and boost mental well-being. The Mayo Clinic has done research on the benefits of walking.

“Walking is good for overall cardiovascular health,” Stewart said. “We generally recommend getting at least 30 minutes a day or 150 minutes a week. When we walk, not only is it a form of cardiovascular exercise, it’s also important for mental health and relaxation.” 

Stewart started a “Walk with a Doc” program while working in Upson County, Georgia. He said a brisk walk is always best.

“To say that walking is important is a tremendous understatement,” says Stewart. “It has multiple benefits. We are a walking family, my wife and I.” 

Stewart attended medical school at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. An HBCU, Stewart shared the story of Meharry being the only medical school to accept him, despite being a good student, while he was an undergraduate student at Mercer. 

“I was an excellent student, but I was not the best standardized test taker,” he recalled. “Meharry recognizes that we would be excellent physicians if it were not for certain test scores. I really think the HBCU experience was right for me. I really found my nurturing at Meharry.”