An adult on average will sleep about 8-8.5 hours per night if given the opportunity. The amount of sleep necessary for adults can vary by person however, with some people operating best with 7 hours per night and others operating best with 9 hours per night.
New born babies require 16-18 hours of sleep per day. Pre-school aged children need 11-12 hours per day, with school-aged children needing about 10 hours per night. Hormones really come into play when dealing with teenagers. Teens tend to fall asleep later and struggle more with early rising (also needing 9-10 hours of sleep per night). This brings in the issue of school starting early and few teens getting an adequate amount of sleep.
Although it does not erase the sleep you have lost, trying to catch up on weekends can be helpful. It is also recommended if possible to work in naps throughout the day.
Tips for a good nights sleep:
1. Keep a solid sleep schedule. It's difficult to do this (especially if you are in school or have children) but going to bed and waking up at the same time each day does wonders for regulating your body.
2. Exercise! Aim for a minimum of 30 min of exercise per day and try to avoid working our 2-3 hours before you want to fall asleep.
3. Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.
4. Try not to nap after 3pm
5. RELAX! Take a nice bath or dim the lights.
Sleep Disorders:
1. Insomnia: Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
2. Sleep apnea: breathing temporarily stops or becomes very shallow during sleep.
3. Restless Leg Syndrome (ALS): there is an unpleasant prickling/tingling in the legs (especially in the calves) that is relieved by moving or massaging the legs.
4. Narcolepsy: extreme and overwhelming daytime sleepiness, regardless of adequate nighttime sleep.
Sources:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/files/docs/public/sleep/healthy_sleep.pdf
https://catchingsomezzz.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/sleepdeprivation.jpg
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