Calculating Sodium Replacement in Heart Failure

A 70-year-old patient is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of heart failure exacerbation. The healthcare provider orders a series of laboratory tests to monitor the patient's electrolyte levels. Initial laboratory results indicate a serum sodium level of 130 mEq/L.

The healthcare team is particularly concerned about this patient due to the risk of neurological complications associated with low sodium levels. The nurse understands that for every 1 mEq/L decrease in serum sodium, there is an associated risk of neurological dysfunction, especially when sodium levels drop below a certain threshold.

Based on the patient's current sodium level, calculate the necessary sodium replacement to bring the serum sodium to a safe level of at least 135 mEq/L, where the appropriate corrective action should be taken as per the healthcare protocol.

Fill in the blank: The patient requires a sodium increase of ______ mEq/L to reach the desired level.