Is it a good idea to measure stress?

It's summer and many people are planning a stress-relieving trip, while for many parents the school holidays are themselves a stressful time. But are we close to having a way for people to measure their own stress levels, and is this a good idea?

Everyone knows someone who is stressed out, whether it's over job worries, money concerns or personal problems.

Stress is notoriously difficult to define but measuring it could soon become official practice. The Office for National Statistics has been asked by Prime Minister David Cameron to assess the well-being of the population and has published details of a survey into what people think wellbeing embraces. It includes relationships with friends and family, job satisfaction, health and the state of the environment.

But aside from public policy, people can already measure their own stress without going to the doctor. Entrepreneurs are making money out of people's desire to test their stress levels. Devices are on sale that measure hormones, blood pressure or pulse rates.

any views on this

it'll panic those ones that always think they are ill..it'll make the stressed more stressed and david cameron is the ideal person to ask for this to be done..if it wasn't for him half of us wouldn't be stressed out looking forward to a cold winter where we can't afford to put our heating on..or feed ourselves..or drive our cars..he'll want to check if we are stressed out from all that..and if it comes back that we are ok then he'll hit us with more prices rises

reading that stressed me ffs

wiseguy wrote:

It's summer and many people are planning a stress-relieving trip, while for many parents the school holidays are themselves a stressful time. But are we close to having a way for people to measure their own stress levels, and is this a good idea?

Everyone knows someone who is stressed out, whether it's over job worries, money concerns or personal problems.

Stress is notoriously difficult to define but measuring it could soon become official practice. The Office for National Statistics has been asked by Prime Minister David Cameron to assess the well-being of the population and has published details of a survey into what people think wellbeing embraces. It includes relationships with friends and family, job satisfaction, health and the state of the environment.

But aside from public policy, people can already measure their own stress without going to the doctor. Entrepreneurs are making money out of people's desire to test their stress levels. Devices are on sale that measure hormones, blood pressure or pulse rates.

any views on this

If you find yourself stressed and unhappy, then i think it's best if you see the doc.

i might have to tomorrow ffs

wiseguy wrote:

i might have to tomorrow ffs

:hug2: i hope you don't.

I agree with Cookie.It is stressful come winter to know if we can stay warm.Hubby and I aren't young and have health issues which are made worse by the cold ,can we afford to eat properly and keep warm.When it snows we can't get shopping delivered...we couldn't last winter.There are a lot of things that could stress us if we let them,but mostly we just plod on,because David Cameron or any of the government don't give a toss about the likes of us.