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little siesta after lunch could lessen the chance of having a
heart attack, say researchers. Between a tenth and a third of
people don't get enough sleep, say the sleep experts. And the
consequences can be serious ranging from reduced productivity at
work, through to obesity, depression and road accidents. In many
countries, people catch up on a little sleep around midday the
practice known as 'siesta'. It's common in Spain, Italy, Greece,
the Middle East, North Africa, Latin America, China, and India.
But in Australia, and other predominantly protestant Anglo Saxon
countries like the UK and the US, the siesta is frowned upon.
Napping tends to be equated with laziness, slackness and
bludging, or at the very least an indication a person has been
out partying too late. Hence the expression 'caught napping' for
someone who's taken their eye off the ball. However, there are
good reasons to have a siesta. One is that traditionally, in
those countries