Compensation - the body's response to heart failure
When the heart doesn't pump normally, tissues and organs in the body don't
receive an adequate amount of oxygen and nutrients. When this occurs, the body
doesn't think there is enough fluid in the blood vessels. The body's hormone
and nervous system try to make up for this or compensate
by raising the blood pressure and heart rate and by retaining fluid. This is
called the 'compensatory response' and causes the heart to be overloaded. A
back up of blood occurs in the blood vessels (circulatory system) resulting in
the symptoms of heart failure.