What Happened to Michael Jackson?

News reports are buzzing about Michael Jackson's death (sorry to tell you this way if you haven't already heard, but I don't think you could've navigated the internet this far without finding out).

A common theme I'm hearing is what exactly killed MJ. The term tossed around the most is "cardiac arrest" with more than a few folks wondering aloud about the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack.

One thing to understand: unless the brain is directly destroyed (brain injury or decapitation) then life always ends with cardiac arrest. The cause of the cardiac arrest could be a heart attack, but it could be any number of other causes, including drug overdose, stroke, infection, cancer, drowning -- the list goes on.

Some reports claim an autopsy is scheduled for Friday, which should tell us more about Jackson's death. Until then here's to a great performer, despite whatever demons he battled -- maybe to the very end.

• Cardiac Arrest vs Heart Attack
• What is CPR?
• Video on How to Do Hands-Only CPR
• Cardiac Arrest Defined
• Heart Attack Defined