<prompt> If you are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patients description.I have periods of rapid heartbeat with shortness of breath.Iwoke up yesterday am with the heartbeat and still have it now.Im 51 years old am a smoker and drinkernot every day I also can often hear my heart beat inside my right ear,and im also overweight and had a hysterectomy in1997  <response>: Hi Thereafter going through your query I understand your concern. Your symptoms of palpitations with shortness of breath are suggestive of having transient cardiac arrhythmias that needs a further evaluation. Further, taking into account your age group and the habit is smoking and Chat Doctor. Its highly advisable that you should personally consult a cardiologist and get and echocardiography and HOLDER monitoring done. Hope to have been helpful. Kind Regards 