Under dehydrated conditions, the cells may lose up to 28% or more of their water volume. This certainly undermines all cellular activities, whether they occur in skin cells, stomach cells, liver cells, kidney cells or heart cells.
In Addison's disease, the adrenal glands don't make enough of a hormone called cortisol, or less often, a related hormone called aldosterone. That's why doctors sometimes call the illness ''chronic adrenal insufficiency,'' or hypocortisolism.
Addison Disease in Humans. In humans, Addison disease occurs when a person's adrenal glands stop making hormones that are important for certain bodily functions. Also called Addison's disease, this is an incurable illness characterized by chronic fatigue, low blood pressure, weight loss, and muscle weakness.