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<\/p>\nEvery now and then we wet ourselves – especially when we're laughing.<\/p>\n
It may happen to some people more than others, but it can definitely take you by surprise. After all, the expression "wet yourself laughing" has to come from somewhere.<\/p>\n
A nurse has now shared the little-known reason why some women wee when they laugh. ConfidenceClub's continence nurse Jane Clarke has more than two decades of experience in the area, and said it's more common than people think.<\/p>\n
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Jane said: "Occasionally referred to as \u2018giggle incontinence\u2019, leaking when you laugh is technically called stress incontinence. This occurs when there is a build of pressure, or \u2018stress\u2019, in the abdomen which pushes down into the pelvic cavity. <\/p>\n
"The pelvic floor muscles, which support the pelvic organs and help keep your bladder closed, are sometimes not strong enough to withstand sudden strong downward pressure, like when you are laughing. What then occurs is that a little (or a lot) of urine can leak out of your bladder."<\/p>\n
If you're someone who wants to try and aid the issue Jane recommends doing pelvic floor exercises regularly, which involves developing a daily regime to strengthen the group of muscles that help control and support your bladder (the pelvic floor).<\/p>\n
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She added: "The best way to prevent stress urinary incontinence is to ensure your pelvic floor muscles are nice and strong by doing regular pelvic floor muscle exercises. Remember, like any muscle group, the pelvic floor needs ongoing exercise to stay strong, so consistency is key."<\/p>\n
If you're looking to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, the NHS has created a step-by-step guide, which can be found here.<\/p>\n
Jane is a continence nurse and ConfidenceClub ambassador, with over two decades of nursing under her belt, including a decade of specialising as a continence nurse. She is a passionate carer, educator and activist for the incontinence community. <\/p>\n
Jane was recently the founder and director of her own private nursing clinic, which provided continence services including clinical practice and training nursing staff and carers. <\/p>\n
She\u2019s now proud to be working alongside incontinence product brand, ConfidenceClub, to support people experiencing incontinence, and those who care for them, by providing practical information and resources. <\/p>\n
ConfidenceClub offers an affordable and convenient way for people across the UK to access the right incontinence products for their individual needs. The service removes the burden of sourcing incontinence products in-store by shipping each order quickly and discreetly. <\/p>\n
It aims to improve the quality of life for the over 14 million people in the UK living with incontinence. <\/p>\n
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