Final answer:
For a patient with pericarditis, the position of relief typically involves sitting up and leaning forward to alleviate pain. Severe cases involving cardiac tamponade require emergency intervention.
Step-by-step explanation:
The position of relief for a patient with pericarditis, an inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart, often involves sitting up and leaning forward. This position can decrease the pressure and pain caused by the inflamed pericardium against the heart. Symptoms of pericarditis may include chest pain, difficulty breathing, and a dry cough. In severe cases, such as cardiac tamponade, where fluid builds up in the pericardial space and restricts the heart's ability to pump blood efficiently, emergency procedures like drainage of the excess fluid may be required to prevent death.