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's Disease Symptoms. Addison's disease is often called the great imitator and with good reason. Addison's disease causes vague symptoms that are often seen with many other disorders such as kidney failure, general stomach/intestinal upset and infectious diseases, among others.