@chanemann1 What would life be like after a stroke..............................................one wonders. Would it be a life worth living? We all endure some inconvenient risk and discomfort, and as we age we incur more of it. The DOACs, while they may be intolerable, in which case you simply don't take them (Aspirin or Warfarin are all that I know that would be left for them), only have a risk of serious bleeds, but as I replied to someone earlier, maybe not in this thread, a serious bleed is likely to be that serious with or without a DOAC working in the system. A deep enough cut, torn limb, aortal rupture, etc, is likely to be only slightly more lethal with a DOAC. The treatment would be the same in either case: stanch the bleed, bind the limb with cords or a belt/tourniquet, and get to a hospital ASAP.

A DOAC does not prevent clotting. It retards the process of clotting. Anyone on Eliquis or Xarlelto who has gouged their skin or cut their finger slicing onions soon learns that the pain is far worse than the ensuing bleed...which will stop.