Konstantinos Em. Vardakis
Biography
I was born in Sitia, Crete on 24/12/1970.
I graduated from the medical school of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1988-1994) and served my compulsory community doctor practice (1995-1996) & military service as a doctor at Hellenic Air Force (1996-1998).
I completed my internship at the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete (Medical specialty title of General Cardiology, 1998-2004) and a fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at Evangelismos Hospital, Athens (2005-2006).
Since then, I have practiced as an interventional cardiologist, head of the catheterization department, in Creta Interclinic Hospital, Heraklion Crete, parallel to my private medical office.
I am a member of the Hellenic Society of Cardiology, of the European Society of Cardiology & the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions.
I am married with two daughters, 16-& 14-year-old.
Hobbies: licensed radio amateur, cycling, music (guitar player).
Talk Details
Alcohol may be more risky to the heart than broadly thought
Most of the studies during the last three decades relating alcohol consumption to cardiovascular risk con-clude that mild to even moderate regular consumption is beneficial reducing the incidence of ischemic cardiopathy and cardiovascular mortality.
Wine in particular offers an additional benefit attributed to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic properties of the remaining components (mainly the polyphenyls found in abundance in red wine).
On the contrary, the same studies argue that the consumption of large amounts of alcohol not only does not protect against cardiovascular diseases but, on the contrary, is cardiotoxic. Thus, heavy alcohol con-sumption primarily increases the risk of arrhythmias.