Taking a long lunch break including a nap is common in a number of Mediterranean, tropical, and subtropical countries. The Washington Post of 13 February 2007 reports at length on studies in Greece that indicate that those who nap have less risk of heart attack.[3]
In modern Spain, the midday nap has largely been abandoned during the work week.[citation needed] In southern Spain, mostly in the Andalusian beach villages, siesta is adopted in summer, to avoid the high temperatures of the day, as a way to extend social life till the fresher late evenings, and enjoy holidays with their fiestas.[citation needed]
In the United States, the United Kingdom, and a growing number of other countries, a short sleep has been referred to as a "power nap", a term coined by Cornell University social psychologist James Maas[4] and recognized by other research scientists such as Sara Mednick[5] as well as in the popular press