Why is pericarditis relieved by sitting forwards and worsened on lying down?

The parietal (fibrous) pericardium is innervated with pain nerve fibres responsible for producing the pain experienced in pericarditis.

When the patient leans forward, the diaphragm moves into a splinted position owing to gravity and this off

I think ventricular filling has a lot to do with it,as Luma says. Furthermore, just like the lungs, the heart is affected by gravity. So when sitting up, the heart can elongate downwards, whereas when lying down the heart presses down on the parietal p

Pericarditis as the name indicates is the inflammation of the pericardium, a tough sac encasing the outer surface of the heart. Normally it contains small amount of fluid enough to allow heart to pump and rub against the surrounding structures without