The world was truly shocked at the news of legendary pop idol Michael Jackson's death on Thursday of apparent (though as of yet unconfirmed) cardiac arrest.

Though a recent study showed that a first-time heart attack sufferer has a higher survival rate than in decades past, heart health is as important as ever.

With the heart particularly on our minds today at the death of the 50-year-old legend, here's information on keeping yourself heart healthy.

Also, more in new research:

Music Can Make the Heart Beat Faster

Global Efforts to Lower 'Bad' Cholesterol Working

Calling All Heart Patients

Susan Boyle on May 8 Photo: bauer-griffin

Susan Boyle on June 5 photo: ap images

Less than a week after being hospitalized for "exhaustion" and a reported "nervous breakdown", Susan Boyle has reportedly been released. To understand what she might be going through, and whether she's getting the best care, we spoke with Srinivasan Pillay, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a clinical associate at McLean Psychiatric Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts.

"Coming back too soon and too fast can be dangerous, if a person is exposed to a stressful situation without treatment in place," says Dr. Pillay. What is too fast, of course, depends on the individual, he says, "but a reasonable estimate is to try to diminish exposure to high-levels stresses for two to four weeks after the initial event. Afterwards, you can expose yourself to a lower-stress environment, while remaining in contact with your therapist, so before and after the event you can process what's been happening."

Farrah Fawcett, the television actress bravely dealing with anal cancer, now has a new cancer-related challenge: While previous reports had indicated that she was "stable" and gearing up for a reality TV show to document her life and medical treatment experience, she now reportedly has been re-hospitalized from a complication from a routine treatment. There are also indications that her cancer has spread to the liver. No matter the news, I am sure that Ms. Fawcett will continue her courageous and determined fight.

Also, I don't know how many of you saw the recent reports about Jade Goody, the British reality TV star who tragically died after a very public battle with cervical cancer. In her final month she managed to get married and say very meaningful and poignant goodbyes to her young sons while under a constant media glare.

-Photo by Getty Images-The public nature of Ms. Fawcett's and Ms. Goody's medical struggles serve as a reminder that cancer does not care about celebrity status and that the "cancer experience" has commonalities we can all relate to. When cancer strikes an individual, it fans out to families, friends, and even social media communities. There is nothing entertaining or easy about being a patient or a caregiver for a loved one battling with cancer. That being said, perhaps there can still be a silver lining of hope--even after devastating news--and the will to live life to the fullest.