Key takeaways
- Men who used a sauna 4-7 times per week had a 63% lower risk of sudden cardiac death than men who used it once per week, in a 20-year prospective study of 2,315 Finnish men.
- In a randomized controlled trial, red-light photobiomodulation reduced periocular (around-the-eye) wrinkle volume by 31.6% after 10 sessions over 4 weeks.
- The global wellness economy reached a record $6.8 trillion in 2024 and is forecast to reach nearly $9.8 trillion by 2029.
- The global wellness market is worth $1.8 trillion, with the U.S. market alone at $480 billion and growing 5-10% per year.
- Homes and communities designed around wellness command resale-value premiums of 10-25%, according to the Global Wellness Institute.
Peak Saunas owner data
Aggregated, anonymized findings from Peak Saunas customers — original data not available elsewhere.
Among Peak Saunas buyers, 65% chose a 2-person model, the most popular size.(Source: Peak Saunas owner data (n=364), 2026)
73% of Peak sauna buyers opted for an indoor install.(Source: Peak Saunas owner data (n=191), 2026)
Heat Therapy & Longevity
Men who used a sauna 4-7 times per week had a 63% lower risk of sudden cardiac death than men who used it once per week, in a 20-year prospective study of 2,315 Finnish men.(Source: JAMA Internal Medicine (Laukkanen et al.), 2015)
Frequent sauna use (4-7 times per week) was associated with a 50% lower risk of fatal cardiovascular disease compared with once-weekly use, over a median 20.7-year follow-up of 2,315 Finnish men.(Source: JAMA Internal Medicine (Laukkanen et al.), 2015)
Men who took a sauna 4-7 times per week had a 48% lower risk of fatal coronary heart disease than those who used it once per week.(Source: JAMA Internal Medicine (Laukkanen et al.), 2015)
Frequent sauna bathing (4-7 sessions per week) was associated with a 40% lower risk of all-cause mortality versus one session per week in a 20-year study of middle-aged Finnish men.(Source: JAMA Internal Medicine (Laukkanen et al.), 2015)
Sauna sessions lasting more than 19 minutes were associated with a 52% lower risk of sudden cardiac death compared with sessions under 11 minutes.(Source: JAMA Internal Medicine (Laukkanen et al.), 2015)
In a study of both men and women, those who used a sauna 4-7 times per week had a 77% lower risk of cardiovascular death than those bathing once per week.(Source: BMC Medicine (Laukkanen et al.), 2018)
Heart rate during sauna bathing can rise to 120-150 beats per minute, corresponding to low-to-moderate-intensity exercise for the circulatory system.(Source: BMC Medicine (Laukkanen et al.), 2018)
Men who used a sauna 4-7 times per week had a 66% lower risk of dementia and a 65% lower risk of Alzheimer's disease than men using it once per week.(Source: Age and Ageing (Oxford Academic; Laukkanen et al.), 2017)
Frequent sauna bathing (4-7 times per week) was associated with a 46% lower risk of developing high blood pressure over nearly 25 years of follow-up.(Source: American Journal of Hypertension (Oxford Academic; Zaccardi/Laukkanen et al.), 2017)
Men who used a sauna 4 or more times per week had a 41% lower risk of being diagnosed with a respiratory disease (COPD, asthma, or pneumonia) than those using it once or less per week.(Source: European Journal of Epidemiology (Kunutsor et al.), 2017)
Men who combined high cardiorespiratory fitness with frequent sauna use (3-7 times/week) had a 40% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 58% lower risk of cardiovascular death than men with both low fitness and infrequent sauna use.(Source: Annals of Medicine (Kunutsor et al.), 2018)
Men who used a sauna 4-7 times per week had a 79% lower risk of developing a psychotic disorder than men who used it once per week.(Source: Medical Principles and Practice (Laukkanen et al.), 2018)
In a randomized controlled trial, a single session of whole-body hyperthermia produced an antidepressant effect that lowered Hamilton Depression scores by about 6.5 points versus sham and persisted for up to 6 weeks.(Source: JAMA Psychiatry (Janssen et al.), 2016)
A peer-reviewed evidence review concluded that regular sauna bathing is associated with reduced risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, neurocognitive diseases, pulmonary diseases, and all-cause mortality.(Source: Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Laukkanen, Laukkanen & Kunutsor), 2018)
Red-Light Therapy Evidence
In a randomized controlled trial, red-light photobiomodulation reduced periocular (around-the-eye) wrinkle volume by 31.6% after 10 sessions over 4 weeks.(Source: Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery, 2023)
A controlled trial found that red and near-infrared light treatment significantly improved skin complexion, reduced skin roughness, and increased intradermal collagen density versus untreated controls.(Source: Photomedicine and Laser Surgery (Wunsch & Matuschka), 2014)
In a 16-week randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, low-level light therapy increased hair density by 41.9 hairs/cm2 versus 0.72 hairs/cm2 in the sham group among people with pattern hair loss.(Source: Medicine (Baltimore), 2020)
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 39 randomized controlled trials (861 participants) found photobiomodulation favorably affected muscular performance and fatigue markers such as time-to-exhaustion and repetitions.(Source: Lasers in Medical Science (Vanin et al.), 2018)
Market Size & Growth
The global wellness economy reached a record $6.8 trillion in 2024 and is forecast to reach nearly $9.8 trillion by 2029.(Source: Global Wellness Institute, 2024)
The global wellness economy grew 7.9% from 2023 to 2024 and has doubled in size since 2013.(Source: Global Wellness Institute, 2024)
Wellness real estate reached $584 billion globally in 2024, up from $225 billion in 2019, and is forecast to nearly double to $1.1 trillion by 2029.(Source: Global Wellness Institute, 2024)
Wellness real estate was the fastest-growing wellness sector from 2019 to 2024, expanding at 19.5% per year versus about 5.5% for overall global construction.(Source: Global Wellness Institute, 2024)
The United States is the world's largest wellness real estate market at $223 billion in 2024, accounting for 41% of the global total.(Source: Global Wellness Institute, 2024)
The global spa economy reached $157 billion in 2024 within the broader wellness economy.(Source: Global Wellness Institute, 2024)
The global thermal/mineral springs sector generated $72 billion in revenue across 31,386 establishments worldwide in 2024.(Source: Global Wellness Institute, 2024)
The physical activity sector of the wellness economy was worth $1.14 trillion globally in 2024.(Source: Global Wellness Institute, 2024)
The global sauna market was estimated at $954.3 million in 2025 and is forecast to reach $1.56 billion by 2033, a 6.4% annual growth rate.(Source: Grand View Research, 2025)
The global infrared sauna market was valued at $245 million in 2024 and is projected to reach $368.7 million by 2030, growing 7.1% annually.(Source: Grand View Research, 2024)
The global light therapy market is forecast to reach $1.44 billion by 2030, with red and near-infrared light a leading segment.(Source: Grand View Research, 2024)
The global biohacking market was valued at $24.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $111.3 billion by 2034.(Source: Research and Markets, 2024)
Consumer Behavior & Demographics
The global wellness market is worth $1.8 trillion, with the U.S. market alone at $480 billion and growing 5-10% per year.(Source: McKinsey & Company (Future of Wellness), 2024)
82% of U.S. consumers say wellness is a top or important priority in their everyday lives.(Source: McKinsey & Company (Future of Wellness), 2024)
58% of U.S. consumers report prioritizing wellness more now than they did a year ago.(Source: McKinsey & Company (Future of Wellness), 2024)
Up to 60% of consumers across markets say healthy aging is a top or very important priority.(Source: McKinsey & Company (Future of Wellness), 2025)
70% of U.S. and U.K. consumers report buying more healthy-aging and longevity products in the past year than in prior years.(Source: McKinsey & Company (Future of Wellness), 2024)
Millennials and Gen Z make up about 36% of the U.S. adult population but drive more than 41% of annual wellness spending.(Source: McKinsey & Company (Future of Wellness), 2025)
ROI, Home Value & HSA/FSA
Homes and communities designed around wellness command resale-value premiums of 10-25%, according to the Global Wellness Institute.(Source: National Association of REALTORS (citing Global Wellness Institute), 2025)
Buyers can use pre-tax HSA/FSA dollars toward a qualifying sauna purchase with a Letter of Medical Necessity, which can reduce the effective cost by roughly 30%.(Source: Truemed, 2024)
Heat Therapy & Longevity — selected figures
Frequently asked questions
Is sauna use actually backed by science?
The strongest evidence comes from the Finnish Kuopio cohort. In JAMA Internal Medicine (2015), frequent sauna use (4-7 times per week) was associated with a 40% lower risk of all-cause mortality versus once-weekly use. These are observational findings, so they show an association rather than proof of cause and effect.
Do the well-known sauna studies only include men?
The landmark 2015 JAMA Internal Medicine cohort was men-only, but a later study in BMC Medicine (2018) of 1,688 adults that included 867 women found a similar pattern: a 77% lower risk of cardiovascular death among the most frequent users versus once-weekly users.
What temperature and session length were studied?
The Finnish research centered on traditional saunas around 79 degrees Celsius (174 Fahrenheit). The lowest risks were observed among people taking longer sessions (more than 19 minutes) four to seven times per week, as reported in JAMA Internal Medicine (2015).
Is there evidence behind red-light therapy?
Controlled trials of red and near-infrared light have reported measurable cosmetic effects. For example, a 2023 randomized controlled trial in Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine and Laser Surgery found a 31.6% reduction in around-the-eye wrinkle volume after 10 sessions. Evidence for athletic recovery is more mixed and rated lower quality by reviewers.
Can a home sauna be paid for with HSA or FSA funds?
In some cases. With a Letter of Medical Necessity, buyers may be able to apply pre-tax HSA/FSA dollars toward a qualifying sauna, which Truemed (2024) estimates can reduce the effective cost by roughly 30%. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances and IRS rules.
Methodology. We compiled 38 statistics across 14 named sources (analyst firms, government data, and peer-reviewed research). Each figure was verified against its primary source at publication. Health findings are reported as associations, attributed to the study of record.