What it means
The body adjusts to keep balance. In acid-base balance, the lungs and kidneys compensate for each other: in metabolic acidosis the lungs breathe faster to remove carbon dioxide, and in respiratory acidosis the kidneys hold on to bicarbonate. In shock, the heart speeds up and vessels narrow to keep blood pressure up. When these efforts fail, the client is decompensating. In mental health, compensation is also a defense mechanism of making up for a weakness by excelling in another area.
For the nurse
A rising heart rate and breathing rate can be early signs of compensation before the blood pressure drops. Report them rather than waiting for a falling blood pressure.
At a glance
| Spanish | compensación |
|---|---|
| Also written | compensated, compensatory |
Related terms
arterial blood gas
A blood test from an artery that measures oxygen, carbon dioxide, bicarbonate and the blood's pH.
homeostasis
The body's way of keeping its inside conditions, such as temperature, fluids and blood sugar, steady.
alkalosis
A state in which the blood is less acidic than normal, with a blood pH above 7.45.
defense mechanism
An unconscious mental process that protects a person from anxiety or painful feelings.