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We often wish each other "good night" before heading off to bed. But for many, having a good night isn't possible, because something gets in the way.

For many Americans, what gets in the way is insomnia - the medical condition when you have the opportunity to sleep but can't -- and the prevalence of insomnia is higher among older people and women.

How much is enough?

The amount of sleep needed to maintain good health varies from person to person and changes throughout one's life. According to the National Institutes of Health, the average adult requires seven to eight hours of sleep each night to be healthy.

Age	Recommended Amount of Sleep
Newborns	16-18 hours a day
Preschool-aged children	11-12 hours a day
School-aged children	At least 10 hours a day
Teens	9-10 hours a day
Adults (including the elderly)	7-8 hours a day

“In recent years, we have come to a better understanding of how the brain regulates sleep, and importantly, also the ways in which sleep can be disturbed,” said Darryle Schoepp, Ph.D., senior vice president, Neuroscience & Ophthalmology, Merck. “The science of sleep is fascinating, but what makes that better understanding more meaningful is the hope that it will lead to new approaches for treating insomnia."

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