Final answer:
When cardiac output fails, the heart compensates by increasing heart rate, stroke volume, and undergoing hypertrophy to maintain blood flow and pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
When cardiac output fails, the heart tries to compensate through several mechanisms. Firstly, the heart rate can increase to try to pump more blood throughout the body. Secondly, the stroke volume can increase, which means the heart pumps more blood per beat. Lastly, the heart may undergo hypertrophy, where the heart muscle thickens to provide stronger contractions. All these compensations aim to maintain adequate blood flow and blood pressure in the body.
It is important to note that while these mechanisms can temporarily assist the failing heart, chronic heart failure often requires medical intervention to manage effectively.