That's because they suffer from a condition called stress incontinence. When they laugh or cough, a little bit of urine leaks. It's a common problem that comes with age, when muscles and nerves in the bladder may weaken or change. Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say you shouldn't suffer from this problem in silence. Talk to your doctor.
Treatments are available.
Exercises to strengthen the muscles that control your bladder may help, and in some severe cases, surgery may resolve the problem. Other people suffer from an overactive bladder, which causes a frequent need to urinate. People with this condition are afraid to get too far from a bathroom. This is another reason to see your doctor. UT Southwestern urologists say the first step is a urinalysis because one of the most common causes of overactive bladder is a urinary-tract infection.