A newborn in Columbus, Ohio, has a brand new demeanor ever since being treated by a chiropractor, her parents say.

Lily Freeman, just 2 months old, wasn’t a happy baby, her father, Joseph Freeman, told Fox News Digital.

When his daughter was born, her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck twice. 

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About a week after the birth, Freeman and his wife, Stephanie Murdock, noticed that the baby exhibited extreme fussiness, grimacing, clenched fists, and stiff arms and legs.

Murdock, who was breastfeeding, went on a strict diet, cutting out all dairy and eggs, hoping to spark some change.

“When she was placed on her back, she would cry uncontrollably,” Freeman said. “The only thing that worked was holding her upright. We knew something was wrong.” 

The couple took their baby to four different doctors, who concluded that since she was gaining weight and was healthy, she probably had colic — which would improve in three to four months.

“As her parents, we could not just sit back and wait it out,” Freeman said. “We knew she had invisible pain.”

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The couple posted on social media, searching for answers from fellow parents. Many recommended they see a chiropractor.

“We had no previous knowledge that chiropractors treated children,” Freeman said. “We were extremely skeptical because Lily was only 2 weeks old.”

When evaluating a baby, a chiropractor said the movements of the spine’s joints will help determine where adjustments are needed. (iStock)

Freeman and Murdock took their baby to see Dr. Josh Russell at Ability Chiropractic in Hillard, Ohio. The doctor explained to them that the birthing process can be “traumatic” for mother and child.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Russell said that he and his colleague, Dr. Tyler Morman, often treat babies with colicky behavior.

They typically perform a “thorough exam” and investigate the child’s history, including the details of the pregnancy, labor and delivery.

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“The whole premise of chiropractics is to help the nervous system function the way that it should,” he said.

“When you have a lack of mobility within the spine and tightness in musculature … that interferes with the nervous system’s communication to send signals to the rest of the body.” 

A chiropractor compared the pressure of an adjustment to checking “a peach or a tomato for ripeness.” (iStock)

When evaluating a baby, the movements of the spinal joints will help determine where adjustments are needed, Russell said.

When adjusting, the doctor said the appropriate pressure is what might be used to check “a peach or a tomato for ripeness.”

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“It’s a sustained pressure, holding a specific area that needs to move better,” he said. “Once that nervous system interference is gone, we see huge changes.”

Freeman, the baby’s mom, told Fox News Digital after the second chiropractic visit, he and Murdock noticed a “huge change” in their little one’s mobility and demeanor.

Dr. Josh Russell at Ability Chiropractic in Hillard, Ohio, treated baby Lily Freeman. (Audrey Art/Ability Chiropractic)

“She started smiling for the first time since she was born,” he said. “We could place her on her back without her uncontrollably crying.” 

He added, “She was able to sleep without waking up every 20 minutes in pain. It was a beautiful thing to witness Lily transform into a totally different baby.”

Some claim practice is ‘overwhelmingly safe’ 

Russell said he sees family members ranging in age from one day old to 99 years old.

Babies, toddlers and kids who may be having trouble with eating, sleeping or bowel movements could find great benefit from an adjustment, according to the chiropractor.

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For toddlers, Russell claims that chiropractic care can also help with hyperactivity.

Regarding parents’ worries that an adjustment could hurt their baby, he stated that the practice is “overwhelmingly safe.”

Babies, toddlers and kids who may be having trouble with eating, sleeping or bowel movements could find great benefit from an adjustment, according to a chiropractor.  (iStock)

“I haven’t had any adverse reactions to chiropractic care,” he said. 

“Our protocol … is a thorough exam, very light adjustments. It’s really nothing crazy.”

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Freeman encouraged other parents to “do their research” and consult with a chiropractor before undergoing treatment.

“Knowledge is power, and we had to advocate for Lily,” he said. “You have to be the voice for the voiceless.” 

Lily Freeman, pictured at left, changed into a “totally different baby,” her father said. (Joseph Freeman; iStock)

Dr. Lora Tanis, a New Jersey chiropractor who is also the president of the Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics, also weighed in, telling Fox News Digital that she “definitely recommends” chiropractic care for babies. 

“Often there are mechanical forces or circumstances that would warrant a spinal evaluation for a baby, and therefore, having a baby evaluated early can potentially avoid future problems,” she said in an email.

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Chiropractors are trained to perform “age-appropriate exams prior to determining if the child is a candidate for chiropractic care,” Tanis added.

Babies who suffer from neuromusculoskeletal conditions will show signs of “greater comfort” following a visit to the chiropractor, she said.

“Many parents report that their baby cries less and sleeps more soundly after chiropractic care.”

“Often there are mechanical forces or circumstances that would warrant a spinal evaluation for a baby, and therefore, having a baby evaluated early can potentially avoid future problems,” one chiropractor said. (iStock)

“Adjustments performed on children are very gentle, precise and appropriate for their age,” Tanis said.

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She encouraged parents to seek chiropractic help for children if they notice abnormal posture or head position, decreased motion of extremities, irritability with movement, or trauma.

Experts warn of risks

Not all experts agree that chiropractic adjustments are safe for newborns.

An observational study published in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), concluded that “serious adverse events may be associated with pediatric spinal manipulation.”

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Beth C. Natt, M.D., system medical director of pediatrics at Atlantic Health System in New Jersey, echoed those concerns.

“I do not recommend chiropractic care for babies,” she told Fox News Digital.

“Although watching a newborn baby get ‘adjusted’ might be a popular video clip on TikTok, the reality is that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other reputable medical organizations do not recommend chiropractic care for infants due to safety and efficacy concerns.”  

“Infants are wired to adapt to their environment without external interventions like chiropractic care.”

Claims that chiropractic care can treat conditions like colic, reflux and sleep disturbances are “not supported by rigorous scientific studies,” according to Natt.

Although some believe that infants need to be “realigned” after childbirth, Natt disagreed.

Infants have “delicate and developing bones and joints,” the doctor noted, which makes them “more susceptible to injury from spinal manipulations,” a pediatrician said. (iStock)

“The infant’s body undergoes these natural adjustments and development after birth, and infants are wired to adapt to their environment without external interventions like chiropractic care,” she said.

Infants have “delicate and developing bones and joints,” the doctor noted, which makes them “more susceptible to injury from spinal manipulations.” 

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“There have been documented cases of serious injuries, including fractures and spinal cord injuries, after chiropractic care in infants,” Natt warned.

The doctor recommended parents speak with their pediatricians about their concerns before seeing a chiropractor.

Babies’ developing bones can leave the little ones more susceptible to injuries, the pediatrician said.  (iStock)

The pediatrician can perform an assessment of the infant and determine whether other, less risky therapies are better for the infant, she said.

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Natt added, “At the end of the day, we are all aligned — we want to ensure that we care for the health, safety and comfort of our patients.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the AAP requesting comment.

Having an IUD (intrauterine device) inserted for birth control is known to be potentially painful.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is now recommending pain management protocols for the procedure.

Women on social media have documented their discomfort, with some TikTok users posting videos of themselves in visible pain while lying on a doctor’s table.

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One user, Sarah Warren, shared that she took ibuprofen an hour before her appointment as suggested by her doctor, but that the procedure was still painful.

“I almost passed out, not going to lie,” she said. “There needs to be better pain management for IUD insertion.”

In a 2014 study published in the journal Contraception, health care providers were found to underestimate patients’ pain during IUD insertion.

On a 100-mm pain scale, patients in the study ranked their maximum pain at 64.8 mm, while providers rated it at 35.3 mm.

New guidance for pain relief

Following a persistent call for change from patients and doctors, the CDC released new guidance in its U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2024.

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The agency suggested that all patients should be counseled on the potential pain before the appointment, as well as on the risks, benefits and alternative options for pain management.

“When considering patient pain, it is important to recognize that the experience of pain is individualized and might be influenced by previous experiences, including trauma and mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety,” the guidance reads.

The IUD is inserted through the opening of the cervix and into the uterus. (iStock)

Evidence suggests that using lidocaine as a local anesthetic — or using a topical gel, cream or spray — could help reduce patient pain, according to the agency.

The notice also listed misoprostol as a medication used by some providers to help soften the cervix before IUD insertion.

The CDC also mentioned a variety of alternative options, like NSAIDs, smooth muscle relaxants and analgesics, although the evidence for pain reduction is limited.

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Dr. Meleen Chuang, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at NYU Langone Hospital Brooklyn, reflected on this guidance in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.

“Many OB/GYNs have already been doing these interventions for years,” she said. “It is welcoming to see the CDC reflect the updates for guidance in accordance to our care delivery.”

“It is welcoming to see the CDC reflect the updates for guidance in accordance to our care delivery,” said one OB/GYN (not pictured).  (iStock)

Using pain relief methods like lidocaine to numb the cervix or taking medications such as acetaminophen and NSAIDs can help with reducing this discomfort, according to Chuang.

Other non-invasive pain relief methods can include using a heating pad on the patient’s belly, the doctor said. 

In addition to pain management, Chuang said her patients often find comfort in being “talked through” the procedure by their doctors.

Taking medications like acetaminophen and other NSAIDs can help with reducing IUD insertion discomfort, according to an OB/GYN. (iStock)

“The communication of what to expect before and during the procedure helps with the overall experience and alleviates any anxieties,” she said. 

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“These are very easy things we commonly do for patients, as well as being fast/efficient in placing the IUDS, [to] make the experience much more acceptable.”

“The procedure for placement for IUD should take no more than two to three minutes in experienced hands,” an OB/GYN said. (iStock)

“We want what is best for our patients, and if there is fear or concern [about] pain … we are obligated to help our patients feel supported and at ease,” Chuang added.

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IUDs are more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, according to Yale Medicine.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the CDC for further comment.

The prevalence of cancer among men is expected to skyrocket globally in the coming decades, according to a new study from the American Cancer Society (ACS).

To predict future risk, Australian researchers analyzed the mortality rates tied to 30 different types of cancer among adult men in 2022, based on data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer across 185 countries and territories. 

Based on those findings, they predicted that between 2022 and 2050, men’s cancer cases will spike by around 84% — going from 10.3 million to 19 million.

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Male cancer deaths are expected to increase by 93% in that same time frame, reaching 10.5 million by 2050.

Cases are expected to more than double among men 65 and older, as well as for those who live in areas with a low or medium Human Development Index (HDI, a measure of a country’s average rankings in health, knowledge and standard of living).

Poorer survival is also projected for rare cancers, such as pancreatic.

The findings were published in Cancer, the journal of the ACS.

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In 2020, men were 43% more likely to die of cancer than women, and their diagnosis rate was 19% higher, statistics show.

Men have been shown previously to engage more in modifiable risk factors for cancer, including smoking and consuming alcohol.

They are also less likely to get regular screenings for male-specific cancers, the study authors noted.

Experts predict that between 2022 and 2050, men’s cancer cases will spike by around 84% — going from 10.3 million to 19 million. (iStock)

The 10 cancers with the highest age-standardized mortality rates among men are lung cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, prostate cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemia, bladder cancer, and cancers of the brain and central nervous system.

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To help reduce the impact of cancers on men, the researchers called for reducing modifiable risk factors and making male-specific screenings more accessible, among other efforts.

Men have previously been shown to engage more in modifiable risk factors for cancer, including smoking and consuming alcohol. (iStock)

“Strengthening health infrastructure, enhancing workforce quality and access, fostering national and international collaborations, and promoting universal health coverage are crucial to reducing cancer disparities and ensuring cancer equity among men globally,” the study authors wrote.

Potential limitations

The researchers acknowledged some limitations of the study, including the quality of the data provided by some countries and territories.

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“Estimates in low-HDI and medium-HDI countries could be less accurate because the majority of these jurisdictions have relatively low-quality cancer registries and/or civil and vital statistics registration systems,” the authors wrote.

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They also noted that some “measures of cancer burden, such as years of life lost or years lived with disability,” were not available in the original data and could not be included in the study.

Fox News Digital reached out to the ACS and physicians for comment.

A Northern Virginia community is being recognized for its tip-top health status.

Falls Church, Virginia, has been named America’s healthiest community by U.S. News and World Report.

The annual ranking lists the top 500 healthiest communities nationwide using a score of zero to 100 across 10 categories, based on assessments of nearly 3,000 counties and county equivalents.

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The categories include population health, equity, education, economy, housing, food and nutrition, environment, public safety, community vitality and infrastructure.

Falls Church scored high in multiple categories — 97 in population health, 96 in economy, 94 in food and nutrition, 95 in infrastructure, and a perfect score of 100 in education.

“The Little City” dethroned Los Alamos County, New Mexico, which took second place in 2024, followed by Douglas County, Colorado; Sioux County, Iowa; and Hamilton County, Indiana.

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Falls Church also landed the top spot in 2018.

The city was found to have the top walkability score and ranked high for its proximity to destinations like libraries, museums or playgrounds, according to U.S. News.

A playground at Graham Park in Falls Church, Virginia, is pictured. The city was found to have the top walkability score and ranked high for its proximity to destinations like libraries, museums or playgrounds. (Benjamin C Tankersley/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Falls Church has a 93% preschool enrollment rate and a 97% high school graduation rate.

Eight in 10 residents have at least an associate’s degree, earning the city a high score in education.

Behind the ranking

There are 92 metrics that make up each of the 10 assessed categories, U.S. News data editor Julia Haines shared with Fox News Digital.

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For example, the population health category considers metrics like cancer prevalence, lack of health insurance, and life expectancy, which is the heaviest weighted of all categories, according to Haines.

This is followed by equity, education and the economy. 

Falls Church ranked high in a number of these categories, Haines said.

A class is pictured at Justice High School in Falls Church, Virginia, on September 11, 2019.  (ALASTAIR PIKE/AFP via Getty Images)

“We like to say that consistency is key across our rankings, so doing well in a number of categories and subcategories helps a county succeed,” she told Fox News Digital.

As U.S. News marks its sixth edition of Healthiest Communities, Haines said she hopes the annual list starts conversations among communities and individuals.

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“[The list] allows our readers to not only identify how their communities succeed, but also where they may fall short, perhaps motivating readers and community leaders to find solutions,” she said.

“For example, someone may find that while their county is doing really well, a county just a few miles away could be struggling, indicating that something may be causing that shift down the road.”

The population health category considers metrics like cancer prevalence, population with no health insurance, and life expectancy, which is the heaviest weighted of all categories. (iStock)

Dana Jones, the director of Housing and Human Services in Falls Church, said the local reaction to the designation has been “one of joy that the city has been recognized for something we make a real effort toward.”

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“Residents and employees see the correlation between health, wellness and quality of life,” she told Fox News Digital.

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Jones echoed some attributes that she believes gave Falls Church an advantage, including the city’s nationally recognized farmers market, “outstanding education system” and walkability.

The Eden Center, located at Seven Corners in Falls Church, Virginia, is a destination for Vietnamese food and specialties. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Mayor Letty Hardi displays “fitness in action” by walking and jogging around town and hosting the annual Mayors’ Fitness Challenge, Jones noted.

Some of the other contributing factors to the city’s ranking include “trail improvements, a focus on bike safety and the availability of healthy food,” according to Jones.

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Above all, she added, community members want “the best for themselves and their families, including comprehensive health and a safe and affordable place to live.”

Hundreds of lives are lost each year on U.S. waterways due to recreational boating accidents that can be prevented, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. 

Last summer, 564 deaths and 2,126 non-fatal injuries from boating accidents were reported, according to a May press release from the U.S. Coast Guard — with the highest number of deaths occurring in the summer months of July and August.

Alcohol was noted as the leading factor in those deaths, contributing to 17% of total fatalities.

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Intoxication also played a role in 13% of all non-fatal boating injuries and property damage, which totaled $63 million in 2023.

“That’s why I never go on a boat on a weekend in the summer,” Mike from Long Island, New York, who did not want to share his last name, told Fox News Digital. 

“I know more people will be on the water and likely drinking.” 

He said that while spending time on the water with family and friends, he’s witnessed boaters driving erratically and speeding with an alcoholic beverage in hand. 

Deadly consequences

Just as with driving drunk on the road, boating under the influence is illegal and can have deadly consequences, water safety experts told Fox News Digital.

Alcohol is known to cause impaired judgment, balance, coordination and reaction time — all of which can put boat operators and their passengers at risk for accidents and fatalities.

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It can also impact vision, leading to “decreased peripheral vision, reduced depth perception, decreased night vision, poor focus, and difficulty in distinguishing colors (particularly red and green),” according to the Coast Guard’s website.

“Alcohol and drug use on the water can be more hazardous than on land, as the combination of the marine environment motion, vibration, engine, noise, sun, wind and spray accelerates a user’s impairment,” Megan Ferraro, executive director of The ZAC Foundation, a water safety organization in Greenwich, Connecticut, told Fox News Digital.

Alcohol is known to cause impaired judgment, balance, coordination and reaction time — all of which can put boat operators and their passengers at risk for accidents and fatalities. (iStock)

“Alcohol consumption on the water also increases the likelihood of dangerous behaviors, such as swimming while intoxicated, falling overboard or capsizing the boat,” she went on. 

“It can also increase the risk of hypothermia in the water.”

“Alcohol and drug use on the water can be more hazardous than on land.”

Drinking while boating or swimming is a lethal combination, Ferraro said — especially among young adults.

Among recreational water deaths involving U.S. adolescents, 30% to 70% occur while drinking alcohol and swimming or boating, she stated.

A boat operator with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above 0.10% is more than 10 times as likely to die in a boating accident compared to an individual who did not consume alcohol, according to a Coast Guard estimate. 

Among recreational water deaths involving U.S. adolescents, 30% to 70% occur while they’re drinking alcohol and swimming or boating, an expert said. (iStock)

Alcohol also contributes to nearly a third of drownings each year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported.

“For lots of people, summer is a time to get outside and enjoy activities with friends and family,” Dr. George F. Koob, PhD, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), said in a comment to Fox News Digital.

“Sometimes these activities involve alcohol.”

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Alcohol can put a damper on summer festivities, Koob warned — “from increasing the risk of sunburns to causing boating accidents and drownings.”

Boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs (BUI) is illegal in every state, the Coast Guard  also said.

Penalties can include fines, loss of boating privileges and even jail time.

6 tips for staying safe on the water

Besides alcohol consumption, the Coast Guard report also cited factors like operator inattention or inexperience, improper lookout, excessive speed, and failure of machinery as contributing factors in boating accidents.

The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that life jackets could have saved the lives of more than 80% of boating fatality victims. (iStock)

The U.S. Coast Guard website and water safety experts offered the below tips for staying safe while boating.

1. Avoid alcoholic beverages

Designating a “sober captain” will help to ensure the safety of everyone on board and potentially others on the water, experts agreed.

The U.S. Coast Guard recommends that operators take a boating safety course. (iStock)

“This person must refrain from consuming alcohol or drugs and always remain alert and capable of piloting the vessel safely,” Ferraro said.

Koob also recommended avoiding alcoholic beverages while piloting a boat, driving a car, exploring the wilderness, and swimming or surfing.

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Bringing along non-alcoholic beverages will help keep everyone refreshed and deter passengers and the boat operator from drinking alcohol, Ferraro added.

“Having no alcohol while aboard is the safest way to enjoy the water, as intoxicated passengers are also at risk of injury and falls overboard,” the Coast Guard said on its website.

2. Remain vigilant

“Boaters should remain vigilant on the water, as most incidents occur when you might least expect them – in good visibility, calm waters and little wind,” Capt. Amy Beach, director of inspections and compliance at the U.S. Coast Guard, said in a May 2024 news release.

A boat operator with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.10% is more than 10 times as likely to die in a boating accident.

The most frequent events involve collisions with other vessels, objects or groundings, she pointed out — “which is why it is so important to keep a proper lookout, navigate at a safe speed, adhere to navigation rules and obey navigation aids.”

3. Wear US Coast Guard-approved life jackets  

The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that life jackets could have saved the lives of more than 80% of boating fatality victims, according to its website. 

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Accidents can occur at high speeds on the water, leaving little time to reach for a stowed life jacket, the organization added.

4. Perform a vessel safety check 

This will ensure the boat is operating properly, the Coast Guard advised.

The operator should also ensure that passengers are aware of propeller hazard areas and should account for passengers and children.

Passengers should not be permitted to ride where they can fall overboard.

If someone falls overboard, the Coast Guard recommends stopping the boat and making sure the area is clear to start the recovery process. (iStock)

If small children will be on board, experts recommend babyproofing or childproofing the boat just as you would at home.

5. Ensure safe pickups

If someone falls overboard, the Coast Guard recommends stopping the boat and making sure the area is clear to start the recovery process.

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Never put a boat in reverse to pick someone up out of the water, the agency states.

Instead, the operator should keep the person visible at all times and circle around going forward.

6. Consider taking a boating safety course

The U.S. Coast Guard recommends on its website that operators take a boating safety course. These courses are offered throughout the country, via organizations such as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadron and many state boating agencies.

Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Coast Guard for comment.