Sometimes life just gets to be too much. Millions of people are stressed out from relentless commitments at work or at home. Stress can make you physically ill and it can also cause feelings of loneliness, isolation and depression.

But one doctor said that you can ease some of life's troubles by getting a pet, a dog, cat or even a fish.

Coming home to the unconditional love of Jesse and Brinkley is a type of therapy for Mayo Clinic Dr. Edward Creagan. The golden retrievers' warm welcome ease the emotions Creagan sometimes feels after a day of caring for seriously ill patients.

"In the clinic as a cancer doctor, I see some soul shreddng- challenges," said Creagan.

The dogs help him and his wife, Peg, smile, but that's not all. Creagan said you can actually improve your health in many ways by turning to pets, not pills.

"There have been numerous studies in peer-reviewed medical journals showing that people who have pets have lower blood pressure, do better after heart attacks, are more physically active, have less depression," said Creagan.

And Creagan said those with pets are happier than people who don't have pets. He said that is because caring for a pet, a dog, cat, bird or even a fish increases the levels of certain chemicals in your brain. These are chemicals that promote feelings of well-being.

“Such as phenethylamine, dopamine, endorphins -- that's the so-called 'runner's high,' oxytocin and prolaxin," said Creagan.

And they reduce the stress hormone cortisol. But perhaps the best part about pets is explained in a greeting-card quote written by a man who rescued a neglected pup.

"I get teary eyed reading this: ‘Many a time he pulled me away from my solitude, my greed and my anger. He covered me with kisses. Did I save him, I wondered, or did he save me?’" said Creagan.

Creagan said while pets can improve your quality of life and may improve your health, they are not a substitute for medications needed for medical conditions.

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

The Mayo Clinic

Baylor College of Medicine