How Often Do People Die From A Heart Attack? After Carrie Fisher, George Michael Deaths, Here's What Causes Heart Problems

Pop culture icons Carrie Fisher and George Michael died this week from heart problems. Fisher, known for her portrayal of the feminist icon Princess Leia in George Lucas' epic "Star Wars" movie series died Tuesday after suffering a heart attack on a plane. Michael died Sunday in his sleep of heart failure.

Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen for other organs in your body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The heart can continue beating during heart failure.

Heart failure isn't uncommon. About 5.7 million adults in the United States have heart failure and nearly 10 percent of all deaths in 2009 cited heart failure as contributing cause.

Risk factors includes coronary heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure and diabetes. Unhealthy behaviors such as smoking tobacco, eating foods high in fat, not exercising enough and being obese can contribute to heart failure.

If you experience common symptoms of heart failure, including shortness of breath, weight gain with swelling in the feet, legs, ankles or stomach and feeling tired or weak, talk about it with your doctor.

Fisher was public about her health problems. Fisher published in 1987 her first novel "Postcards from the Edge," a semi-autobiographical book about her real-life battles with drug addiction and bipolar disorder.

Michael also had a troubled history. He was hospitalized in 2011 with pneumonia and used drugs throughout his career.

“Very few things cause healthy people to die suddenly. I suspect he may have had a serious underlying health issue that led to his acute heart issue,” said Dr. Dan Bensimhon, medical director of the Advanced Heart Failure & Mechanical Circulatory Support Program at Cone Health System in Greensboro, North Carolina, told CBS News. Bensimhon had no involvement in Michael’s case. That said, people with weak hearts which cause heart failure are predisposed to dangerous heart rhythms which can kill them suddenly and that is why we place implantable defibrillators (ICDs) in these patients. I suspect the announcement that he died from heart failure is not the complete story.”