re: BJJ practitioners: any concern about carotid artery dissection?

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I'm older than that and would like to do BJJ, but it just seems so guaranteed to cause me a debilitating worsening of a couple of things I have (mostly spinal/neck related).

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I'm about to turn 38 and started a few months ago. I've definitely gotten injured. Had what I assumed was a bruised rib that had me out for 3 weeks. I get bumps and bruises pretty much every class. However, I've never come close to feeling like I'm gonna get some debilitating injury. Even the bruised rib didn't hurt when it happened. Just woke up in the morning with it after having 3 different partners get knee-on-belly on me. One of the many drags of sucking hard as a white belt . Hardest part was staying away while it healed.

Like others have said, it's wild in that you can train pretty hard and not get seriously hurt. Most people you are training with are trying to armbar you and make you feel like your arm is going to break, but they are careful not to accidently kick you in the face while they do it, haha. It's an odd thing, but it works. And you tap well before it's truly painful. You are trying your hardest not to hurt people while trying to get them in a position that they have to submit, because they know they will get hurt.