Techniques for detecting stress urinary incontinence use a pressure sensing catheter the electrical indications of which are applied to a processing unit for detecting pressure levels generated during involuntary coughs. The involuntary coughs are induced preferentially by using a nebulized composition of L-tartrate in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The area under the curve generated from pressure samples is calculated and used in conjunction with the detection of urine leakage to determine the existence of stress urinary incontinence.