Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is defined as a clinical syndrome in which the heart fails to push blood forward normally, resulting in congestion in the pulmonary circulation and /o systemic and decreased blood flow to tissues due to reduced cardiac output. (Berkow, MD) The result is that the heart does not pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. CHF can be caused by a variety of conditions that affect the heart such as: diseases or substances that weaken the heart muscle such as heart attacks, infections or toxins; diseases that cause stiffening of the heart muscle such as hemochromatosis, amyloidosis, coronary heart disease and long-term hypertension; and diseases that increase the body's tissue demand for oxygen beyond the heart's ability to supply oxygen-rich blood as in hyperthyroidism or anemia. (Kulick, MD and Shiel Jr., MD) CHF can affect many different organs including the heart, lungs, liver, intestines, and tissues under the skin. The symptoms of CHF are very varied but can include fatigue, swelling especially of the ankles and legs, shortness of breath with minimal effort and inability to lie down due to reduced breathing capacity. Increased urination may occur, especially at night, and nausea, abdominal pain, and decreased appetite may occur due to fluid accumulation in the liver and intestines. (Kulick, MD and Shiel Jr., MD) Although CHF is an equal opportunity disease, there are some differences between men and women, one of which is that women tend to develop CHF later in life than men . Women more frequently develop diastolic than systolic heart failure. Women often suffer from shortness of breath and ankle swelling more noticeably than men, and in g...... middle of paper ......relieves clinical change. 9th Rev., 6th Ed. 1. United States: Ingenix, 2010. Print.Ingenix, Inc., Staff. “Heart Failure Coding Challenges.” Advance for health information professionals. 22 May 2007: n. page. Network. November 20, 2011.Kulick, MD, FACC, FSCAI, DL, and WC Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR, eds. MedicineNet.com. Np, nd Web. November 20, 2011. Starling, MD, Randall C. The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Heart Failure. New York, NY: Kaplan, 2009. Print.unknown, . "Reduced need for interrogations for acute CHF, thanks to the new Coding Clinic." HC Pro. Np, October 30, 2008. Web. November 20 2011. .