Can One have atherosclerosis if one has good levels of cholesterol low LDL 100 and high HDL 44?

To Odysseus -- You're absolutely wrong! The discovery of the relationship between elevated cholesterol and atherosclerotic disease was what drove the pharmaceutical companies to search for medications that could lower cholesterol. My grandmother, back in the 1950's, knew that a high cholesterol was bad, and that was before we knew about cholesterol fractions such as HDL-C, LDL-C, and VLDL-C. At that time, the only known way to counter a high cholesterol was through diet.

Funny how cholesterol wasn't an issue till they found a pill that one takes every day for the rest of your life.

Yes they can - LDL is one of the main factors however, due to it being oxidized on the walls of the arteries, a lower level just means that there is less of a chance of this occurring. HDL level 44 is not high, but normal, a level of 55+ would be much more beneficial by removing cholesterol that has collected on the artery wall.

In my reading, atherosclerosis is dependent on 7 general risk factors, all of which play a role in governing health of the artery linings.

Atherosclerosis develops most commonly in people with damaged artery linings which the body does a bad job of attempting to repair. The result is narrowed arteries and blockages.

Reducing or eliminating risk factors takes away the potential damage to the arteries.

44 is not high HDL. High HDL is 60 and up. Very high is 80-90+, which is very rare.

My cardiologist wants my LDL between 60 and 70. It was below 60, and he said to adjust things so it came back up a little. My LDL/HDL ratio is 1.6 . 100 LDL is better than 200, but not as good 60-70.

Yes, you can. A significant number of people who have heart attacks have normal cholesterol values. There are probably other variables that affect risk levels, such as inflammation.

An HDL of 44 isn't that high; the American Heart Association recommends HDL of at least 40 for men and 45 for women. Higher would be better for HDL.