www.Thyroidcode.org is a website dedicated to increasing thyroid disorder awareness and helping people with thyroid and metabolic health. Breaking the Thyroid Code is my first book scheduled for pre-release in August 2018.

1. © 2018 Zana A. Carver, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved
Cover Design by Cindy Gatzemeier; Rae of Light Designs

2. INTRODUCTION
• Thyroid disorders are common
• Approximately 20 million Americans
• Estimated 60% unaware
• Thyroid dysfunction is often misdiagnosed or
undertreated
• Women more commonly affected
• Many people suffer from thyroid-related symptoms
• Fatigue and weight gain are common
• Thyroid hormones affect every body system
• Can cause a wide variety of non-specific symptoms

3. WHO AM I?
WHY DO I CARE ABOUT THYROID HEALTH?
• I have considerable experience with thyroid health and thyroid
hormone replacement
• I’m sharing what I have learned in order to help others

4. © 2018 Zana A. Carver, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved
Cover Design by Cindy Gatzemeier; Rae of Light Designs

5. BENEFITS OF THIS PROJECT
• Increasing thyroid awareness
• Understanding of thyroid function
• Understanding thyroid tests
• Understanding treatment options
• What dietary changes are helpful
• What supplements are helpful
• What types of exercise are helpful
• How to be more productive with low energy
• How to lower your stress and sleep better
• How to avoid environmental triggers

7. © 2018 Zana A. Carver, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved

8. THYROID GLAND
• The thyroid gland releases thyroid hormones,
thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3)
• These hormones control metabolism in tissues
• If thyroid hormone levels in tissues are low
(hypothyroidism) then metabolism slows down
• Hypothyroidism causes a person to feel tired, cold,
gain weight, or have high cholesterol, constipation,
depression, and slows the nervous system

9. THYROID GLAND
• When thyroid hormone levels are high
(hyperthyroidism) metabolism becomes too high
• Hyperthyroidism can cause nervousness, anxiety,
sweating, chest tightness, and heart palpitations
• The most common causes of thyroid dysfunction
are autoimmune conditions (i.e. Hashimoto’s and
Graves disease)

10. © 2018 Zana A. Carver, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved

11. THYROID FEEDBACK
• The thyroid gland responds to thyroid stimulating
hormone (TSH) by producing and releasing thyroid
hormones
• TSH is a pituitary hormone, and its level is often used
as an indication of thyroid status
• When TSH levels are high, thyroid hormone levels
are usually low
• When TSH is low, thyroid hormone levels are usually
high

12. © 2018 Zana A. Carver, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved

13. © 2018 Zana A. Carver, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved

14. THYROID FEEDBACK
• But this isn’t the full story…
• The pituitary responds to a hormone called
thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) produced by
the hypothalamus
• Illness and stress can impair this feedback system
• Insulin resistance and leptin resistance may also
impair this feedback system

15. © 2018 Zana A. Carver, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved

16. THYROID HORMONE
• In order for thyroid hormone to function it has to
enter tissue cells, and usually has to be converted
from T4 to T3 (the more active form)
• Thyroid hormone affects every tissue and system in
the body but…
• Other systems also exert an effect on proper thyroid
hormone function in tissues
• Inflammation and hormone resistance can cause
thyroid hormone levels to be normal in blood but
abnormal in some tissues

17. © 2018 Zana A. Carver, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved

18. ALTERNATIVE THYROID TESTS
• When a person is healthy, there are enzyme systems
that activate T4 by converting it to T3
• When a person experiences severe illness,
prolonged or severe stress, nutritional deficiencies,
or famine their metabolism slows down
• This is the result of up-regulation (increasing the
amount) of an enzyme that inactivates T4 by
converting it to reverse T3 (rT3)

19. THYROID HORMONE
• This dysregulation and low thyroid hormone function
in specific tissues can cause a multitude of
symptoms
• But as long as laboratory values are in the normal
range the thyroid gland is not the cause
• Tissue level deficits in thyroid hormone are
considered rare
• But there is no accurate test for tissue level deficits
so how could anyone know if it is rare?

20. Thyroidcode.org
Image by Cindy Rae Gatzemeier
© 2018 Zana A. Carver, Ph.D. All Rights Reserved

21. FINAL WORDS
• Thyroidcode.org is a website devoted to increasing
thyroid disorder awareness and improving the
health and metabolism of the general public
• Thyroid Code does not sell products or charge a fee
for information
• The only way to truly help others is by sharing good
sources for information that is helpful to them
• Please share this presentation with those who may
benefit from it and reference
https://www.thyroidcode.org/

22. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
• A sincere thank you to Columbia Basin College for
awarding me with an Exceptional Faculty Award in
2018 that has made this project possible!

23. REFERENCES
• Thyroid Code, https://www.thyroidcode.org/
• Figures, schematics, and histologic images by Zana Carver, PhD
• Graphic design, photography, and images by Cindy Gatzemeier, Rae of Light
Designs, https://cygatz.wixsite.com/cindyraegatzemeier
• Braverman and Cooper (2013). Werner & Ingbar’s The Thyroid, A Fundamental and
Clinical Text, 10th ed. Philadelphia, Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• Singer, P. (2009). Manual of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 4th Philadelphia,
Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins: (414-448).
• Sheehan, M. T. (2016). “Biochemical Testing of the Thyroid: TSH is the Best and,
Oftentimes, Only Test Needed – A Review for Primary Care.” Clinical Medicine &
Research 14(2): 83-92.
• Chopra, I. J., et al. (1975). “Reciprocal changes in serum concentrations of 3,3′,5-
triiodothyronine (T3) in systemic illnesses.” J Clin Endocrinol Metab 41(06): 1043-1049.
• Bianco, A. C. and B. W. Kim (2006). “Deiodinases: implications of the local control of
thyroid hormone action.” Journal of Clinical Investigation 116(10): 2571-2579.
• National Academy of Hypothyroidism
(2016). https://www.nahypothyroidism.org/inadequacy-of-thyroid-stimulating-
hormone-test/ Accessed 3/2/18.
• O’Connor, T. M., et al. (2000). “The stress response and the
hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis: from molecule to melancholia.” QJM: An
International Journal of Medicine 93(6): 323-333.