they look for all sorts of things the heart might secrete including adrenaline including "BNP Level" google that,

2. yes, i could not walk in january and after three months i am managing to be stable on lots of drugs. i cannot walk as far or lift heaviest things any more but i live a reasonably normal life, not alowed alcohol or high salt intake.

3. life expectancy used to be very short, this is not the case any more and people can live completely normal long healthy lives if in complete control of there disease.

4. most patients DO NOT have a heart transplant, there is other options such as Left ventricular devices and only the sickest of patients will be considered for a transplant or LVAD.

hope this helps