What should patients taking anticoagulants avoid to reduce bleeding risk?

Patients taking anticoagulants should avoid playing contact sports to reduce their bleeding risk. Contact sports, such as football, boxing, or ice hockey, involve physical interaction and potential trauma that can lead to injuries with significant bleeding. Since anticoagulants are designed to thin the blood and prevent clotting, any injury sustained during such high-impact activities can result in more severe bleeding than would occur in patients who are not on these medications. Therefore, it is prudent for these patients to engage in less risky forms of physical activity that do not involve potential for significant injury.