Benjamin Duong

A portrait of the author.

Benjamin Duong

Benjamin Duong is a medical student and freelance writer based in Dothan, Alabama. He has a Masters of Public Health from the George Washington University and majored in microbiology and political science at the University of Florida. He has worked on advocacy for issues ranging from medical education to global maternal and infant mortality.

Latest MedTruth Work by Benjamin Duong

Bald woman looks in the mirror, worried that her cancer chemotherapy treatment will be delayed because of the coronavirus.

Coronavirus Delays Chemotherapy for Cancer Patients

Benjamin Duong · April 16, 2020

Patients with cancer, already vulnerable with many dependent on regular treatment appointments, are facing delayed chemotherapy, surgeries and even outright cancellations.

News
Illustration of a crowd of people wearing face masks during the coronavirus pandemic.

How the Coronavirus Affects the Medical Supply Chain

Benjamin Duong · March 16, 2020

The U.S. faces a shortage of coronavirus testing kits, revealing flaws within the medical supply chain.

Health Features
Photo of a woman holding her dyed hair, representing the cancer risk linked to hair dyes and straighteners.

Chemical Hair Dyes and Straighteners May Increase Breast Cancer Risk

Benjamin Duong · March 2, 2020

Use of hair dyes and chemical hair straighteners may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, with black women being at an increased risk compared to white women.

Research + Findings
Canadian flag representing the Zantac alternatives shortage in Canada.

Canada Faces a Zantac Alternatives Shortage

Benjamin Duong · February 11, 2020

Canada is facing shortages of heartburn medications after a Zantac recall led to an increase in demand for alternatives.

News
Doctor part of a PPI intervention program discussing PPI prescription to patient.

Do Intervention Programs Reduce Unnecessary PPI Use?

Benjamin Duong · February 3, 2020

A December 2019 study looked at an intervention program meant to decrease the inappropriate use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in Harris County, Texas.

Research + Findings
A photo of a person typing in reference to the FDA's recognized consensus standards for medical devices.

FDA Updates Recognized Consensus Standards for Medical Devices

Benjamin Duong · January 28, 2020

The FDA published more than 80 additions, withdrawals or modifications to its list of recognized consensus standards for medical devices in the U.S. market, impacting devices such as cardiovascular stents and nails used to secure implants to bones.

FDA Regulation
A photo of a young man vaping, unaware that e-cigarettes can cause asthma, bronchitis and other chronic lung issues.

Study Links E-Cigs to Multiple Chronic Lung Diseases

Benjamin Duong · January 23, 2020

A study published in Dec. 2019 found that the use of e-cigarettes increased risk for chronic lung diseases including asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Research + Findings
A photo of a woman with a bone fracture, potentially caused by warfarin bone loss.

Warfarin Linked to Higher Risk of Bone Fractures, Study Shows

Benjamin Duong · January 20, 2020

A recent study from researchers at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health found that warfarin had a modestly higher risk of bone fractures compared to other kinds of blood thinners.

Research + Findings
A photo of a truck storing Zantac in the sun, as exposure to heat during storage and transportation causes the heartburn medication to become contaminated with NDMA.

Exposure to Heat During Storage Causes Zantac Contamination

Benjamin Duong · January 14, 2020

Heat is the culprit causing carcinogenic NDMA contamination in Zantac, according to recent testing by Emery Pharma. A citizen petition requesting a total suspension of ranitidine products has been submitted to the FDA.

News
Woman reading study about talcum powder and ovarian cancer which underrepresents populations of color.

Study Exploring Talc-Cancer Link Underrepresents Populations of Color

Benjamin Duong · January 13, 2020

A recent baby powder study found an insignificant link between the substance and ovarian cancer, but the study has limitations, including underrepresenting populations of color.

Research + Findings
A photo of a man touching his through as he experiences viral gastroenteritis, also known as the stomach flu, linked to PPI use.

Overuse of Everyday Heartburn Medications Increase Risk for Stomach Flu

Benjamin Duong · January 9, 2020

Studies have linked the off-label use of PPIs, a common class of heartburn medications, to an increased risk of viral gastroenteritis, also known as the stomach flu.

Research + Findings
Diabetic testing glucose levels for generic insulin use.

Pre-Qualification Program for Generic Insulin

Benjamin Duong · January 9, 2020

Insulin in the U.S. is costly, with a lack of generic insulin leaving diabetics with few options. The WHO is launching a pilot program to prequalify generic insulin products in hopes of increasing access to this vital drug.

News
A photo of a woman's hand as she hovers over a pill container thinking about which alternative to Zantac she should select.

5 Alternatives to Zantac

Benjamin Duong · January 7, 2020

What are the alternative options to treat heartburn and related conditions? Here are 5 medications to take instead of Zantac.

Health Features
A photo of a Canadian flag, representing Health Canada's Medical Device Directorate.

Health Canada Introduces Medical Devices Directorate

Benjamin Duong · December 10, 2019

The MDD will allow Health Canada to better regulate medical device technology during its entire lifecycle — from research and development to use by patients and providers.

FDA Regulation
A photo of a woman's hand holding medication, representing the FDA's recent addition to the drug watch list.

FDA Updates Watch List With Xofluza and Other Drugs

Benjamin Duong · November 21, 2019

The FDA recently updated its watch list, adding more than a dozen medications, including drugs that may cause anaphylaxis, angioedema, miscarriage, hypersensitivity reactions and other side effects.

FDA Regulation
An Asian woman wearing a beige sweater, holding her stomach because her gut bacteria was affected by her medication, such as metformin, PPIs, SSRIs, antibiotics.

How Everyday Medications Can Affect Gut Health

Benjamin Duong · November 20, 2019

Metformin, PPIs, SSRIs, steroids and antibiotics may affect the bacteria of the gut microbiome, according to a study from the Netherlands presented at UEG Week 2019.

Research + Findings
Gay couple representing how PrEP For HIV Works

How PrEP For HIV Works

Benjamin Duong · August 27, 2019

The goal of PrEP is to prevent HIV infection even if there is an accidental exposure. Tenofovir and emtricitabine are antiviral drugs that inhibit HIV’s ability to replicate and spread within the human body.

Health Features
An illustration of a patient undergoing adaptive radiotherapy, which may be the future of cancer treatment.

Adaptive Radiotherapy: Cancer Treatment May Be Safer, More Accessible

Benjamin Duong · August 21, 2019

Adaptive radiotherapy is a form of personalized radiation therapy for cancer treatment. Although still in its early stages, clinicians hope that with further development to imaging methods, this form of cancer treatment will be a safer option to target tumors while minimizing tissue damage.

Research + Findings

FDA Alert Indicates Some Medtronic Pacemaker Batteries Can Fail Without Warning

Benjamin Duong · August 21, 2019

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety alert in May regarding the batteries of implantable pacemakers and cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers (CRT-P) from the medical device company, Medtronic.

FDA Regulation
Photo of man wearing apple watch for medical benefits of apple watch after hip replacement.

Could the Apple Watch Save Lives After Hip and Knee Replacements?

Benjamin Duong · November 21, 2018

Studies show the Apple Watch health monitoring system may be able to track joint replacement complications and notify providers in a timely manner, potentially save thousands of patients.

MedTech
A woman worried about opioid overdoses in America

How Likely Are Americans to Die from an Opioid Overdose?

Benjamin Duong · February 5, 2019

In 2017, at least 70,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose. A deep dive into the history and causes of the opioid epidemic shows that America has long struggled with opioids.

Research + Findings
A physician talking to patient about telemedicine in the ADA Standards of Care

Major Takeaways from the 2019 ADA Standards of Care

Benjamin Duong · January 25, 2019

The key patient takeaway from the ADA standards of care is that patients have more control over the treatments and management strategies that they receive from their health providers.

News
Woman passed out due to a diabetes emergency

4 Diabetes Emergencies You Should Never Ignore

Benjamin Duong · March 6, 2019

If you have type 2 diabetes, you have to understand diabetes emergencies. Know the signs of hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state, Fournier's gangrene, lower limb amputations and diabetic ketoacidosis.

Health Features
A man wondering about the risk of SGLT2 amputation in diabetics.

SGLT2 Amputation: Can Medication Contribute to Diabetes Amputations?

Benjamin Duong · February 12, 2019

A popular class of diabetes medications in 2019 may cause an increased risk of amputation, in addition to other complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis, acute kidney injury and serious urinary tract infection, SGLT2 amputation creates another risk for patients with diabetes.

FDA Regulation