How much do I need to sleep? It depends on your age

Experts weigh in on how much sleep you should get at night and break it down by age group. They also offer ways to get more and better sleep if you're not getting enough.

The answer of how many hours you need is not so straightforward, said Dr. Raj Dasgupta, an assistant professor of clinical medicine in the division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. Sleep needs are very individualized, he said, but the general recommendation -- the "sweet spot" -- is to get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Recommendations really change as people age, however.