Most healthy adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night to maintain good health and optimal functioning. The general recommendation is at least 7 hours of sleep for adults aged 18 and older. Getting less than 7 hours regularly has been linked to various health risks such as weakened immune function, increased risk of chronic diseases, and impaired cognitive performance. Sleep quality also matters, with about 1.5 to 2 hours of deep sleep being important during the night. For other age groups, recommended sleep varies with infants needing the most and older adults needing slightly less but still around 7 to 8 hours.